The American artist Chris Burden (b. 1946) undoubtedly is a key figure in contemporary art. His performances in the Seventies redefined the possibilities of the medium. The sculptures and installations he creates have pushed back the boundaries of what is physically possible in the visual arts.
He sealed his reputation as an infamous iconoclast with his celebrated early performances like Shoot (1971) or Trans-fixed (1974). Furthermore he also created a number of absolute icons of contemporary art in his early career.