Jonas Mekas

(American/Lithuanian, 1922–2019)

Jonas Mekas is an American-Lithuanian artist and writer known for avant-garde films such as Walden (1969) and Lost, Lost, Lost (1976). “My films are the celebration of reality, of life, of my friends, of actual daily life that passes and is gone tomorrow,” he has explained. Born on December 24, 1922 in Semeniškiai, Lithuania, Mekas and his brother were imprisoned by Nazi soldiers while trying to flee Europe during World War II. The brothers later escaped the camp, and Mekas went on to study philosophy at the University of Mainz after the end of the war. In 1949, the two of them emigrated to Brooklyn as a refugees. To escape their boredom and loneliness in America, they watched as many films as possible, eventually leading Mekas to begin filming scenes from his everyday life. The brothers went on to start the landmark magazine, Film Culture, in 1954. During the 1960s, he fell into a milieu that included figures such as Andy Warhol, Timothy Leary, Hans Richter, Yoko Ono, John Lennon, and Allen Ginsberg, all of whom appeared in at least one of his films. Along with his film archive, Mekas has written over 20 poetry books, and his Lithuanian poetry is considered canonical literature in his native country. The artist continues to live and work in New York, NY.

Jonas Mekas News

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by Caroline Goldstein

From a Union Victory at the New Museum to the Death of Jonas Mekas: The Best and Worst of the Art World This Week

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At documenta 14, Everything’s a Strategy—Even Bad Hanging

by Hili Perlson

At documenta 14, Everything’s a Strategy—Even Bad Hanging

Jonas Mekas Artworks

Jonas Mekas (70 results)

Holy Fools (SALVADOR DALI), 1972, 1972

Jonas Mekas

Holy Fools (SALVADOR DALI), 1972, 1972

Sale Date: December 12, 2022

Auction Closed

John & Anthony, Montauk sunset, August..., 1970–1999

Jonas Mekas

John & Anthony, Montauk sunset, August..., 1970–1999

Sale Date: September 23, 2021

Auction Closed

Diaries, Notes, and Sketches, also known as Walden

Jonas Mekas

Diaries, Notes, and Sketches, also known as Walden

Sale Date: March 31, 2021

Auction Closed

Diaries, Notes, and Sketches, also known as Walden

Jonas Mekas

Diaries, Notes, and Sketches, also known as Walden

Sale Date: February 11, 2021

Auction Closed

Cassis, 1966., 1966

Jonas Mekas

Cassis, 1966., 1966

Sale Date: June 13, 2019

Auction Closed

Lee Bouvier Radizwill; Pair of cupped hands (2...

Jonas Mekas

Lee Bouvier Radizwill; Pair of cupped hands (2...

Sale Date: September 16, 2017

Auction Closed

Man's face; Two roosters with a flower below (2...

Jonas Mekas

Man's face; Two roosters with a flower below (2...

Sale Date: September 16, 2017

Auction Closed

Mekas' wedding day; Pair of hands with a...

Jonas Mekas

Mekas' wedding day; Pair of hands with a...

Sale Date: September 16, 2017

Auction Closed

Signed Lennon & Ono Still

Jonas Mekas

Signed Lennon & Ono Still

Sale Date: September 16, 2017

Auction Closed

Three Signed Folio Size Film Stills

Jonas Mekas

Three Signed Folio Size Film Stills

Sale Date: September 16, 2017

Auction Closed

Scenes from the life of Andy Warhol, 1965–1982

Jonas Mekas

Scenes from the life of Andy Warhol, 1965–1982

Sale Date: January 29, 2014

Auction Closed

Andy at Village Gate, June 7, 1966

Jonas Mekas

Andy at Village Gate, June 7, 1966

Sale Date: December 13, 2012

Auction Closed

New York in winter, 1999

Jonas Mekas

New York in winter, 1999

Sale Date: September 15, 2012

Auction Closed

Kate manheim with a daisy (+ Seventh..., 1972

Jonas Mekas

Kate manheim with a daisy (+ Seventh..., 1972

Sale Date: December 3, 2011

Auction Closed

Fragments of an unfinished biography (2 works), 1972

Jonas Mekas

Fragments of an unfinished biography (2 works), 1972

Sale Date: October 28, 2011

Auction Closed

Elvis, 2010

Jonas Mekas

Sale Date: June 9, 2011

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1994

Jonas Mekas

Untitled, 1994

Sale Date: June 24, 2010

Auction Closed

Film Stills: Elvis (40 works), 2008

Jonas Mekas

Film Stills: Elvis (40 works), 2008

Sale Date: November 21, 2009

Auction Closed

Self-portrait with Andy (from film The life..., 1973

Jonas Mekas

Self-portrait with Andy (from film The life..., 1973

Sale Date: May 30, 2007

Auction Closed

Cassis Summer, 1966

Jonas Mekas

Cassis Summer, 1966

Sale Date: May 30, 2007

Auction Closed

Warhol, 1994

Jonas Mekas

Sale Date: June 29, 2005

Auction Closed

Caroline Kennedy, Atlantic Ocean at..., 1972–1972

Jonas Mekas

Caroline Kennedy, Atlantic Ocean at..., 1972–1972

Sale Date: July 13, 2004

Auction Closed

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