Marina Abramović, the pioneering Serbian performance artist who turns 80 this year, is the subject of a new reading list curated by Shai Baitel, the curator of her current exhibition "Transforming Energy" at the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice. Baitel recommends five essential books on Abramović, including her memoir "Walk Through Walls" (2016), "Marina Abramović: A Visual Biography" (2023) by Katya Tylevich, "When Marina Abramović Dies" (2010) by James Westcott, the quote collection "Abramović-isms" (2024) edited by Larry Warsh, and the catalogue for her 2023 Royal Academy of Arts solo show. The article also notes her concurrent exhibition "Seven Deaths" at Cisternerne in Copenhagen.
This guide matters because Abramović remains one of the most influential and boundary-pushing performance artists in history, and the selected books offer both intimate and scholarly perspectives on her life, philosophy, and five-decade career. With major exhibitions running simultaneously in Venice and Copenhagen, the reading list provides essential context for understanding her artistic evolution and cultural impact, serving both newcomers and seasoned art enthusiasts.