John Sanborn: Between Order and Entropy

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John Sanborn emerged as a central figure in American video art during the 1970s and 1980s, navigating the space between avant-garde experimentation and popular media. His wide-ranging body of work includes early experimental video, MTV-era music videos, interactive installations, and digital art, positioning him as a bridge between the analog and digital ages.

This comprehensive monograph spans over forty years of creative exploration, encompassing themes such as music, cultural identity, mythology, memory, and storytelling. Sanborn’s influence extended into the tech world—he worked with Apple and Adobe to help define the capabilities of digital image tools during the rise of Silicon Valley.

Featuring essays by leading video art scholars, contributions from peers and friends, and a revealing conversation with media art pioneer Dara Birnbaum, this volume illuminates Sanborn’s complex and visionary practice. From underground art spaces to television, Hollywood, and back again, his career defies easy categorization—few artists have navigated such diverse creative terrain with equal impact.