Daniel Arsham U.S.A., b. 1980

Daniel Arsham is an American contemporary artist known for his multidisciplinary works that are a combination of art, architecture, and performance.

One aspect of his art that he is known for is his use of archaeological elements: with an affinity for the concept of fictional archaeology, he creates works that combine nature and the effect of time on manmade structures, such as eroded casts of modern artifacts that look like they have been unearthed after centuries of time. In using materials such as volcanic ash, crystals, drywall, and other materials used in architecture, he uses alchemy and science to transform them, sometimes consulting with conservationists to understand how these materials change over time.

"I tend to think of [my works] more as an introduction to an alternate way of thinking," he said about the nature of his art. "I show my work in many different places in the world so it means something different to everyone depending on where they live and their culture, as well as their age group."

Arsham was born in 1980 in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Miami, Florida. At the age of 12, Hurricane Andrew destroyed his family home, an event that sparked his interest in both the decay and the rebuilding of architecture as well as the raw power of nature. He moved to New York, and attended the Design and Architecture High School, later he was awarded a full scholarship to The Cooper Union, where he graduated from with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. In 2003, he received the Gelman Trust Fellowship Award.

In 2005, Arsham was invited to design several stage sets for Merce Cunningham's Dance Company. Through this collaboration, he became widely known. Two years later, he and Alex Mustonen founded Snarkitecture, an architecture collaborative that melds sculpture and architecture. The design firm reworks common materials and everyday objects in contrasting landscapes, designing pieces for COS in Seoul, South Korea, KITH in its New York flagship store, and more.

Arsham has also collaborated with fashion brands such as a shoe collection with adidas and an apparel, accessories, and shoe collection as well as a runway for Dior Men's Spring/Summer 2020 collection. Arsham also creates films that are centered around the idea of archeological change, such as in his debut film series, Future Relic.

Arsham's work has been shown internationally, including The Museum of Contemporary Art in Miami, Athens Bienniale in Athens, Greece, New Museum in New York, and Carré d'Art de Nîmes in France. Arsham is based in New York City.