The Death of James Lee Byars

‘I hope that people will experience my way of practising my own death as something useful for themselves.’

– James Lee Byars


From May 11 to November 24, 2019, the Vanhaerents Art Collection will present its second major exhibition on the occasion of the Venice Biennale.

Entitled ‘The Death of James Lee Byars’, the exhibition features works by James Lee Byars and Zad Moultaka will be on view at the church of the Santa Maria della Visitazione.
This presentation, curated by Walter Vanhaerents, is part of the Vanhaerents Art Collection’s exhibition programme, dedicated to creating a dialogue between the work of internationally established and upcoming artists.

The Death of James Lee Byars allows the public to reconnect with one of James Lee Byars’ most iconic installations, which the artist created in Brussels exactly 25 years ago and which has been part of the Collection since 1996. In addition, the audience is invited to discover Zad Moultaka’s new creation that directly engages with Byars’ work and has been specifically commissioned for this occasion.


Practical information:
The Death of James Lee Byars,
Zad Moultaka in dialogue
Curator: Walter Vanhaerents
Assistant curator: Vincent Verbist
Location: Chiesa di Santa Maria della Visitazione
Fondamenta Zattere Ai Gesuati, 30123 Venice, Italy
Collateral events
Dates: 11 May – 24 November 2019
Opening dates: Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on Mondays
Opening hours: 10 am – 6 pm

Admission: free
Accessibility: by vaporetto: lines 2, 5.1, 5.2, 6 and 8, Alilaguna Linea Blu (stop ‘Zattere’)