Ken Jacobs, the pioneering voice of American avant-garde cinema known for his decades-long influence on experimental film, has died at the age of 92. His son, director Azazel Jacobs, confirmed that the legendary artist passed away on Sunday in Manhattan from kidney failure.
Avant-garde filmmaker Ken Jacobs dies at 92
Over a career spanning more than seven decades, Ken Jacobs reshaped the boundaries of film as an art form. His approach often used found footage and manipulated imagery, which earned him the reputation of being a “titan of American experimental cinema,” as described by Film at Lincoln Center.
Reportedly born in Brooklyn, Jacobs began his artistic journey in painting under abstract expressionist Hans Hofmann before venturing into film. The 1960s New York underground scene became his canvas, where he collaborated with fellow avant-garde icon Jack Smith on groundbreaking works like Blonde Cobra (1963) and Little Stabs at Happiness.
Jacobs’ first film, Orchard Street (1955), captured the bustling life of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, setting the tone for his lifelong fascination with the textures of city life and human experience.
The filmmaker’s contributions extended beyond the screen. Alongside his wife and creative partner, Florence “Flo” Jacobs, he co-founded the Millennium Film Workshop in 1966. It is an institution that empowered generations of independent filmmakers. He also taught cinema at Binghamton University for years, where he helped establish one of the first departments dedicated to avant-garde cinema.
Ken Jacobs’ family releases statement
Following his death, Azazel Jacobs issued a statement and revealed that his father continued to create until his final days. “He worked on his art every day, completing some final ‘eternalisms’ on the day he went to the hospital,” Azazel said. (via Variety)
He also shared that Ken’s wife, Flo, his “collaborator” since 1960, passed away on June 4, adding, “Life without his collaborator and partner…was unimaginable for so many, especially him.” Now, Jacobs’ legacy is carried on by his son, Azazel, and his daughter, artist and musician Nisi Ariana.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on ComingSoon.
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