Trans-fixed

performance piece by Burden

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July 21, 2026

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Trans-fixed was a performance art piece by Chris Burden in 1974. In this work, Burden had his hands nailed to the back of a Volkswagen Beetle, a piece that has been described as a reenactment of the crucifixion of Jesus. This performance was one of Burden's most famous and shocking works from the 1970s, a period when he was known for his masochistic and dangerous performance art that pushed the boundaries of what was considered art. Following this period, Burden shifted his focus to sculptural works that incorporated engineering and technology.12

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Chris Burden
For Trans-fixed, perhaps his best-known work, he had his hands nailed to the back of a Volkswagen Beetle, as if he were reenacting the crucifixion of Jesus. From 1978 through 2004, Burden taught art at the University of California, Los Angeles.
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For Trans-fixed, perhaps his best-known work, he had his hands nailed to the back of a Volkswagen Beetle, as if he were reenacting the crucifixion of Jesus. From 1978 through 2004, Burden taught art at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Read More