The Space Behind the Face

The long-awaited memoir by the late, much-lauded theater and visual artist Robert Wilson

Robert Wilson was a driving force in the avant-garde art and theater worlds for half a century: He was the creative mind behind the seminal Einstein on the Beach (1976), among dozens of other original works and pioneering productions; his collaborators included Philip Glass, Lou Reed, Allen Ginsberg, John Cage, Tom Waits, Lady Gaga, and Jessye Norman; and he was honored with a Pulitzer Prize nomination, the Golden Lion for Sculpture of the Venice Biennale, an Olivier Award, the Praemium Imperiale, and many more. The story of Wilson’s life and career is the story of the past fifty years of experimental art and theater—indeed, this history could hardly be approached through a better lens than an oeuvre about which Susan Sontag once said, “I can’t think of any body of work as large or as influential.”

The Space Behind the Face, written in collaboration with his friend, actor and writer Keith McDermott, charts Wilson’s life through a series of vignettes, from growing up in small-town Texas to developing his unmistakable voice in New York’s downtown scene to gaining international renown. Wilson’s unapologetic idiosyncrasy shines throughout, whether he’s creating a children’s theater set of 368 fire hydrants or directing a twelve-hour silent opera about Joseph Stalin.

Part intimate remembrance, part cultural history, part road map for living an artistic life, The Space Behind the Face is a vital text for anyone who believes in the boundless value of creativity—and a stunningly beautiful memorial to the inimitable Robert Wilson.Since the late 1960s, Robert Wilson’s productions have decisively shaped the look of theater and opera. Through his signature use of light, his investigations into the structure of a simple movement, and the classical rigor of his scenic and furniture design, Wilson continuously articulated the force and originality of his vision. Wilson’s close ties and collaborations with leading artists, writers, and musicians fascinated audiences worldwide.