Breakthrough II

1963

First retrospective, at the Jewish Museum

Rauschenberg's first career retrospective was organised by the Jewish Museum in New York.

May 1963

Choreographs his first performance, “Pelican”

In the early 1960s Rauschenberg was involved in the radical dance-theatre experiments at Judson Memorial Church in Greenwich Village, and in May 1963 he choreographed his first performance, “Pelican”, for the Judson Dance Theater. His close friends from Cunningham's circle — Carolyn Brown, Viola Farber and Steve Paxton — danced in his pieces.

1964

Grand Prize at the Venice Biennale

At the 32nd Venice Biennale Rauschenberg won the International Grand Prize in Painting, one of the first Americans to do so (James Whistler and Mark Tobey had won painting prizes in 1895 and 1958). The prize has been called the official recognition of Pop art.

1964

World tour with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company

Rauschenberg designed sets, lighting and costumes for Merce Cunningham and Paul Taylor; his full-time connection with the Cunningham company ended after its 1964 world tour.

28 juin 1964 – 6 octobre 1964

Exhibition: Documenta III

1966

Founds E.A.T. with Billy Klüver

For “9 Evenings: Theatre and Engineering” at New York's 69th Regiment Armory Rauschenberg created the performance Open Score. The series was instrumental in the formation of Experiments in Art and Technology (E.A.T.), a non-profit for collaborations between artists and engineers which he and the Bell Laboratories scientist Billy Klüver officially launched in 1966.