Mark Lancaster

To the British-American artist Mark Lancaster (1938-2021), the dance stage of the 20th century owes some of the most beautiful and poetic designs. He studied textile technology and fine arts at King's College and at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne with Richard Hamilton. After several visits to New York City, he made the American metropolis the centre of his life. He worked with Andy Warhol and served as private secretary and assistant to Jasper Johns. Through him he met Merce Cunningham, for whose dance company he created numerous stage, costume and light designs from 1975 onwards. Further designs were created, among others, for the Ballet Rambert and the Ballet Royal de Wallonie. In 1989 Mark Lancaster was awarded a Bessie Award. At the Volksoper Wien, costume and lighting design by Mark Lancaster can be seen for the first time in Cunningham's Duets« as part of the premiere of »Kontrapunkte«.