Bill Viola (New York, 1951) is internationally recognised as one of the most outstanding artists of our time, a benchmark and pioneer in video-art.
Over a career spanning 40 years, Viola has found meaning and inspiration in his profound interest in mystic traditions such as Zen Buddhism, Christian Mysticism and Islamic Sufism. Humanist spirituality runs throughout his work.
His works include large format video installations, sound atmospheres, presentations of electronic music and video pieces for the screen, and projects for television, concerts, opera and sacred spaces. Viola has received many prizes and awards including the XXI International Catalonia Prize (2009) and the Praemium Imperiale from the Japanese Arts Association (2011), and he became a member of honour of the London Royal Academy in 2017.
Bill Viola and Kira Perov, his partner, colleague and executive director of the Bill Viola studio, live and work in Long Beach, California.