One of Europe's most influential contemporary artists, Michelangelo Pistoletto (born 1933) has persistently investigated and expanded the role of the spectator in art since the 1950s through painting, sculpture, and performance. His present standing as an inspirational figure among younger artists is a testament to the innovative vitality that characterizes all his work, from early paintings and leadership in the Arte Povera movement to his influence on current participatory artistic practices.

This handsomely illustrated book features works created from 1956 to 1974, many never exhibited in the United States, as well as a selection of the artist's writings. Contributors to the book discuss the context of Pistoletto's art, including the social and artistic climate of Turin and the relationship between his work and American Pop art, conceptual art, minimalism, and post-minimalism.