John Baldessari (1931–2020) was a pioneering American conceptual artist whose innovative practice redefined the boundaries of contemporary art. Born in National City, California, Baldessari initially trained as a painter before transitioning to conceptual art in the 1960s, incorporating photography, text, and appropriated imagery into his work. Known for his deadpan humor and intellectual rigor, he explored the relationship between image and language, often juxtaposing stock photographs with cryptic phrases or obscuring faces with colorful dots. His influential teaching career at CalArts and UCLA shaped generations of artists, including David Salle and Barbara Kruger. Baldessari’s prolific career included over 300 solo exhibitions worldwide, retrospectives at institutions like Tate Modern and LACMA, and prestigious honors such as the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale and the National Medal of Arts. He lived and worked in Venice, California, until his passing in 2020.