Chris Burden, artist who nailed himself to Volkswagen, dies at 69

TOPANGA CANYON, Calif., May 11 (UPI) -- Chris Burden, the American who made art out of shooting himself in the arm and nailing himself to a Volkswagen Beetle, died Sunday of cancer. He was 69.

The shocking performance, installation and sculpture artist died at his home in Topanga Canyon, Calif., near Los Angeles.

During the 1970s, Burden was known for staging elaborate performance pieces in which he tested his own physical limits, at times offending his audiences.

For his master's thesis at the University of California Irvine, Burden locked himself inside a school locker for five days with just 5 gallons of water. In 1973, he attempted to electrocute himself but only succeeded in burning the skin on his chest, and in 1974 he had himself crucified to a Volkswagen Beetle.

Burden's performance pieces were often controversial and meant to challenge the conventional understanding of art.

Later in his career, Burden focused on creating large sculptures, often featuring architectural elements like beams in "Beam Drop Inhotim" in Brazil, or lamp posts in "Urban Light."

"I am sure that over time his singular vision will only become more resonant and grow in importance," Burden's dealer, Larry Gagosian, told The Wall Street Journal. "He was every inch an artist, as tough and uncompromising as any I have ever met."

Burden is survived by his wife, Nancy Rubins.