Yoko Ono

Error creating thumbnail:

112 Chambers St jeh

Error creating thumbnail:

John Lennon en echtgenote Yoko Ono vertrekken van Schiphol naar Wenen in de vert, Bestanddeelnr 922-2496 cropped

Error creating thumbnail:

John Lennon en zijn echtgenote Yoko Ono op huwelijksreis in Amsterdam hielden pe, Bestanddeelnr 922-2301

John Lennon performing Give Peace a Chance 1969

Yokoono and johnlennon pelo1972

1 West 72nd Street (The Dakota) by David Shankbone

Yoko Ono (born February 18, 1933) is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist who is also known for her work in performance art and filmmaking. She is the widow of John Lennon, one of the founding members of The Beatles. Ono's work has been both celebrated and controversial, and she has been a significant figure in the avant-garde art world for over six decades.

Early Life

Yoko Ono was born in Tokyo, Japan, to a wealthy banking family. Her father, Eisuke Ono, was a banker and pianist, and her mother, Isoko Yasuda Ono, was from a prominent family involved in banking and the arts. Ono grew up in both Japan and the United States, receiving a classical music education and developing an interest in art at a young age. She attended Gakushuin University in Tokyo before moving to New York City in the 1950s to join her family, who had relocated. In New York, she enrolled at Sarah Lawrence College but left before graduating to pursue her artistic career.

Artistic Career

Yoko Ono's work spans various mediums, including music, film, and visual art. She became a key figure in the New York avant-garde scene in the early 1960s, participating in performances and exhibitions that challenged traditional boundaries of art. Her early work often involved conceptual art and performance art, including the famous "Cut Piece" performance in 1964, where she invited the audience to cut pieces from her clothing.

In 1966, Ono met John Lennon at her art exhibition in London, and they became a couple, collaborating on various artistic and musical projects. Together, they were heavily involved in peace activism, particularly protesting the Vietnam War through bed-ins and other public demonstrations. Their collaboration extended to music, with Ono contributing to several of Lennon's solo albums and releasing her own music, which has ranged from experimental art music to pop.

Personal Life

Yoko Ono's relationship with John Lennon was highly publicized, with the couple using their fame to promote peace. They married in 1969 and had one son, Sean Lennon, in 1975. After Lennon's murder in 1980, Ono continued to work on her music and art, as well as managing Lennon's estate and legacy.

Legacy

Yoko Ono's influence on art and music is significant. She is often credited with pioneering conceptual and performance art, and her work has been the subject of numerous retrospectives at major museums around the world. Despite facing criticism and sexism, particularly in her early years with Lennon, Ono's work has been re-evaluated in recent decades, with many recognizing her contributions to the avant-garde art movement and her role in advocating for peace.

Discography

• Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band (1970)
• Fly (1971)
• Approximately Infinite Universe (1973)
• Season of Glass (1981)

Filmography

• Bottoms (1966)
• Fly (1970)
• Imagine (1972)

See Also

• Avant-garde
• Conceptual art
• Performance art
• The Beatles
• John Lennon