K
Ken Jacobs
- Born
- May 25, 1933
- Died
- October 5, 2025 (92 years old)
- Place of birth
- Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Biography
A pioneer of the American film avant-garde of the 1960s and '70s, Ken Jacobs is a central figure in post-war experimental cinema. From his first films of the late 1950s to his recent experiments with digital video, his investigations and innovations have influenced countless artists.
A New Yorker by birth, Jacobs graduated from City University to find himself in the midst of the downtown art scene of the 1960s, which included artists Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol, beat writers Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac; and the experimental theater troupes of Trisha Brown and Yvonne Rainer. Although Jacobs had studied painting with Hans Hoffman, he quickly gravitated to film, finding kindred spirits in radical filmmakers such as Jonas Mekas and Hollis Frampton. An early friendship with Jack Smith yielded several collaborations, including the seminal underground films Blonde Cobra (which Jonas Mekas dubbed "the masterpiece of Baudelairean cinema") and Little Stabs at Happiness, as well as a Provincetown beach-based live show, The Human Wreckage Review.
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Filmography
- —Sky DiveFilm · Director
- —Depth for One Eye or TwoFilm · Director
- —Spotted FeverFilm · Director
- 2026Downtown Loft with SkylightsFilm · Director
- 2026A Date with ShirleyA Date with ShirleyFilm · Director
- 2026BOOK OF ETERNALISMS 43Film · Director
- 2026BOOK OF ETERNALISMS 41Film · Director
- 2026BOOK OF ETERNALISMS 42Film · Director
- 2025BOOK OF ETERNALISMS 40Film · Director
- 2025Book of Eternalisms 39Film · Director
- 2025BMTBMTFilm · Director
- 2024RiverbedRiverbedFilm · Director
- 2024Tourists of the Familiar 70Tourists of the Familiar 70Film · Director
- 2023Book of Eternalisms 8Film · Director
- 2023Book of Eternalisms 7Film · Director
- 2023For James OtisFor James OtisFilm · Director
- 2023Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeFilm · Director
- 2023Up the IllusionFilm · Director
- 2023Writhing CityFilm · Director
- 2023From Introduction to Orson Welles’s Falstaff: Chimes at MidnightFilm · Director
- 2023Other Urban LivesFilm · Director
- 2023Book of Eternalisms 1-6Film · Director
- 2023SpasmFilm · Director
- 2023Whims of Twenty Twenty-ThreeFilm · Director
- 2023Tourists of the Familiar 1Film · Director
- 2023Tourists of the Familiar 5Film · Director
- 2023Tourists of the Familiar 10Film · Director
- 2023Tourists of the Familiar 15Film · Director
- 2023Tourists of the Familiar 20Film · Director
- 2023Manhattan is an IslandManhattan is an IslandFilm · Director
- 2023Hobgoblin BallHobgoblin BallFilm · Director
- 2022Real Action FiguresFilm · Director
- 2022When Timofeev Moves Everything MovesFilm · Director
- 2022Sergei Eisenstein EmbossedFilm · Director
- 2022Buster Keaton EmbossedFilm · Director
- 2022One Dozen RosesFilm · Director
- 2022America Lets Her Hair Down 1905Film · Director
- 2022Eat the Rich: Aligning Perspectives and Other Challenges to ViewersEat the Rich: Aligning Perspectives and Other Challenges to ViewersFilm · Director
- 2021Eternal BeachFilm · Director
- 2021Abstract EternalismFilm · Director
- 2021Double WowFilm · Director
- 2021XCXHXEXRXRXIXEXSXFilm · Editor, Director
- 2021Cartoonish 1-10Film · Director
- 2021A Small MisunderstandingFilm · Director
- 2021Adventures of Cookie TruckFilm · Director
- 2021Hoffman StudentFilm · Director
- 2021Aspiring To MusicFilm · Director
- 2021In Front of AnthologyIn Front of AnthologyFilm · Director
- 2020Movie That Invites PausingFilm · Director
- 2020StorefrontFilm · Director
- 2020Transparent ApartmentsFilm · Director
- 2020SpikyFilm · Director
- 2020Municipal Building PassageFilm · Director
- 2020Clouds and TreesFilm · Director
- 2020BanditBanditFilm · Director
- 2020Hubble IIFilm · Director
- 2020WhirlpoolFilm · Director
- 2020Halley’s CometFilm · Director
- 2020Water BalloonFilm · Director
- 2020SpaceworksFilm · Director
- 2020Another Day in Days of YoreFilm · Director
- 2020Garage WallFilm · Director
- 2020Period PieceFilm · Director
- 2020Street Commerce IIFilm · Director
- 2020Street CommerceFilm · Director
- 2020Resting MerchantFilm · Director
- 2020Broadway Buildings IIFilm · Director
- 2020Broadway Buildings IIIFilm · Director
- 2020Neon SignFilm · Director
- 2020Flowers and BikeFilm · Director
- 2020Brick Building with Red and Green WindowsFilm · Director
- 2020Broadway BuildingFilm · Director
- 2020Fire EscapeFilm · Director
- 2020DuckFilm · Director
- 2020Chinese New YearsFilm · Director
- 2020Chinese New Years IIFilm · Director
- 2020Doyer StreetFilm · Director
- 2020Sleeping AmericanFilm · Director
- 2020DeKooning PassedFilm · Director
- 2020Waiting Room WindowFilm · Director
- 2020Natural CollageFilm · Director
- 2020Reading SocietyFilm · Director
- 2020Roots of ManhattanFilm · Director
- 2020Lazy CityFilm · Director
- 2020BisonFilm · Director
- 2020Friendly BuildingFilm · Director
- 2020Working Girls (short)Film · Director
- 2020BargainsFilm · Director
- 2020City FoliageFilm · Director
- 2020BarberFilm · Director
- 2020Foliage in Moving Car WindowFilm · Director
- 2020Facade with FaceFilm · Director
- 2020RECIPROCALFilm · Director
- 2020Red GreenFilm · Director
- 2020Ken and FloFilm · Director
- 2020Rain CloudsFilm · Director
- 2020PAINTED POSTERFilm · Director
- 2020DR. TOOTHYFilm · Director
- 2020RubbleFilm · Director
- 2019CRUSHFilm · Director
- 2019PAPPY SEES 3D, TOOFilm · Director
- 2019FailureFilm · Director
- 2019Sebastian and Jonas Leaving the PartyFilm · Director
- 2019Things to ComeFilm · Director
- 2019MOVING ROADFilm · Director
- 2019Figures I - VFilm · Director
- 2019THE WHOLE SHEBANGFilm · Director
- 2019ABSTRACTFilm · Director
- 2019Chaos Is Order MisunderstoodFilm · Director
- 2019Above the RainFilm · Director
- 2019The Sky Socialist: The EnvironsFilm · Director
- 2019Joan Mitchell: DeparturesFilm · Director
- 2019Once Upon a PlanetFilm · Director
- 2019Details of Pollock's White LightFilm · Director
- 2019CartoonFilm · Director
- 2019Nervous Magic Lantern: 3D for One or Two Naked EyesFilm · Director
- 2019Dimsum and DragonsFilm · Director
- 2018The Moments: Evening Boat RideFilm · Director
- 2018Tree StumpFilm · Director
- 2017Swee’pea’s Favorite EternalismsFilm · Director
- 2017Shelley Duvall is Olive OylFilm · Director
- 2017Get Up and GoGet Up and GoFilm · Director
- 2017A Spin Through Night CityFilm · Director
- 2017Along the ElevatedAlong the ElevatedFilm · Director
- 2017Beautiful DreamerBeautiful DreamerFilm · Director
- 2017Ulysses in the SubwayFilm · Director
- 2017WindbreakerWindbreakerFilm · Director
- 2017Capitalism Defeats Life on Earth, Cab in RainCapitalism Defeats Life on Earth, Cab in RainFilm · Director
- 2016Central ParkFilm · Director
- 2016Snow in Headlights IIFilm · Director
- 2016Reichstag 9/11Film · Director
- 2016BMT Canal StreetFilm · Director
- 2016Mosco Street 3: Attack of The Perfect Camera (Fuji W3)Film · Director
- 2016Mosco Street 2Film · Director
- 2016LurkingLurkingFilm · Director
- 2016Molten LandscapeMolten LandscapeFilm · Director
- 2016Ken Jacobs / Victoria Keddie @ The Nervous Magic Lantern FestivalFilm · Director
- 2016Ken Jacobs / Tom Chiu of Flux Quartet @ The Nervous Magic Lantern FestivalFilm · Director
- 2016Ken Jacobs / Ghosts Of The Holy Ghost Spermic Brotherhood @ The Nervous Magic Lantern FestivalFilm · Director
- 2016Ken Jacobs / Rick Reed & Tara Bhattacharya @ The Nervous Magic Lantern FestivalFilm · Director
- 2016Ken Jacobs / Robert Poss @The Nervous Magic Lantern FestivalFilm · Director
- 2016Ken Jacobs / diNMachine @ The Nervous Magic Lantern FestivalFilm · Director
- 2016Ken Jacobs / JG Thirlwell @ The Nervous Magic Lantern FestivalFilm · Director
- 2016I'm Telling YouI'm Telling YouFilm · Director
- 2016Hydroelectric DamFilm · Director
- 2015Empty SeatsFilm · Director
- 2015Batchellor’s Dog and BeachFilm · Director
- 2015Afternoon TideFilm · Director
- 2015Zazie Learns About MoneyZazie Learns About MoneyFilm · Director
- 2015Aimless Sightseeing, SeoulAimless Sightseeing, SeoulFilm · Director
- 2015ChrysalisFilm · Director
- 2015Cyclops Observes the Celestial BodiesCyclops Observes the Celestial BodiesFilm · Director, Writer
- 2015The Lackadaisical Speed of LightFilm · Director
- 2015GranularFilm · Director
- 2015FloralFloralFilm · Director
- 2014Wire FenceWire FenceFilm · Director
- 2014CanopyFilm · Director
- 2014Celestial BodiesCelestial BodiesFilm · Director
- 2014Pygmalion CubedPygmalion CubedFilm · Director
- 2014The GuestsThe GuestsFilm · Director
- 2014Popeye Sees 3-DPopeye Sees 3-DFilm · Director
- 2013A Primer in Sky SocialismA Primer in Sky SocialismFilm · Director
- 2013Joys of Waiting for the Broadway Bus #2Film · Director, Technical Supervisor
- 2013Joys of Waiting for the Broadway Bus #1Film · Director
- 2013Joys of Waiting for the Broadway Bus #3Joys of Waiting for the Broadway Bus #3Film · Director
- 2013Joys of Waiting for the Broadway Bus #4Joys of Waiting for the Broadway Bus #4Film · Director
- 2012Blankets for IndiansFilm · Director
- 2012Street VendorFilm · Director
- 201220 Little FilmsFilm · Director
- 201160 Seconds of Solitude in Year ZeroFilm · Director
- 2011OCCUPY WALL STREET, THE 99% JOIN INFilm · Director
- 2011Seeking the Monkey KingFilm · Director
- 2011The Pushcarts Leave Eternity StreetFilm · Director, Writer
- 2011America at War, The Home Front: Film OpeningAmerica at War, The Home Front: Film OpeningFilm · Director
- 2011Revolving DoorRevolving DoorFilm · Director
- 2011Turbulent WatersFilm · Director
- 2011The RosesFilm · Director
- 2011The Green WaveFilm · Director
- 2011Another OccupationFilm · Director, Writer
- 2011DAY AND NIGHTFilm · Director
- 2011Cyclopean 3D: Life with a Beautiful WomanFilm · Director
- 2010A LoftFilm · Editor, Director
- 2010Sensoriums at Sea: Dr. Toothy's New EntrancewaySensoriums at Sea: Dr. Toothy's New EntrancewayFilm · Director
- 2010Sensoriums at Sea: Toothy TwoSensoriums at Sea: Toothy TwoFilm · Director
- 2010The Near-CollisionFilm · Director
- 2010Fair And White: Parts I, II, III and ExtraFair And White: Parts I, II, III and ExtraFilm · Director
- 2009Jonas Mekas in Kodachrome DaysFilm · Director
- 2009Excerpt From THE SKY SOCIALIST StratifiedFilm · Director
- 2009WalkwayFilm · Director
- 2009BrookFilm · Director
- 2009Bob Fleischner DyingFilm · Director
- 2009Brain OperationsFilm · Director
- 2009"Slow is Beauty"-RodinFilm · Director
- 2009Berkeley To San FranciscoBerkeley To San FranciscoFilm · Director
- 2009What Happened on 23rd Street in 1901Film · Director
- 2009Hot Dogs At The MetHot Dogs At The MetFilm · Director
- 2009Ronald Gonzales, SculptorRonald Gonzales, SculptorFilm · Director
- 2009Gravity Is TopsFilm · Director
- 2009The Day Was a ScorcherFilm · Director, Writer
- 2009The SigningFilm · Director
- 2008Return to the Scene of the CrimeFilm · Director
- 2008Elbow DanceElbow DanceFilm · Director
- 2008Amorous Interludes: His Favorite Wife Improved (or The Virtue Of Bad Reception)Film · Director
- 2008Alone at LastAlone at LastFilm · Director
- 2008The DiscoveryThe DiscoveryFilm · Director
- 2008The Scenic RouteFilm · Director
- 2008Love StoryLove StoryFilm · Director
- 2008Anaglyph Tom (Tom with Puffy Cheeks)Film · Director
- 2007Gift of Fire: Nineteen (Obscure) Frames That Changed The WorldFilm · Director
- 2007Hanky Panky January 1902Film · Director
- 2007NymphFilm · Director
- 2007We Are CharmingFilm · Director
- 2007Popeye Sees 3-D, TOOPopeye Sees 3-D, TOOFilm · Director
- 2007Mosco Street RaptureMosco Street RaptureFilm · Director
- 2007TitlesTitlesFilm · Director
- 2007Capitalism: SlaveryFilm · Director
- 2007Razzle Dazzle: The Lost WorldFilm · Director
- 2007Nervous Lantern at Kill Your Timid Notion FestivalFilm · Director
- 2007New York Ghetto Fishmarket 1903Film · Director, Producer
- 2007Capitalism: Child LaborFilm · Director
- 2006Monks of CinemaFilm · Camera Operator
- 2006Pushcarts of Eternity StreetFilm · Director
- 2006The Surging Sea of HumanityThe Surging Sea of HumanityFilm · Director
- 2006Two Wrenching DeparturesFilm · Director
- 2005Celestial Subway Lines/Salvaging NoiseFilm · Director, Editor, Producer
- 2005Insistent ClamorFilm · Director
- 2005Le Prince: Leeds Bridge 1888Film · Director
- 2005Ontic Antics Starring Laurel and Hardy: Bye MollyFilm · Director
- 2005Let There Be Whistle BlowersFilm · Director
- 2005Krypton Is DoomedFilm · Director
- 2005Spiral NebulaFilm · Director, Writer
- 2004Mountaineer SpinningMountaineer SpinningFilm · Director
- 2004Star Spangled to DeathFilm · Director, Writer, Cinematography, Editor
- 2003Keeping an Eye on StanFilm · Director
- 2003The WhirledFilm · Director
- 2002Circling Zero: Part One, We See AbsenceFilm · Director
- 2002A Tom Tom ChaserFilm · Director
- 2002The Sky Socialist: FlightFilm · Director
- 1999New York Street Trolleys 1900Film · Director
- 1999Flo Rounds a CornerFilm · Director
- 1996Disorient ExpressFilm · Director
- 1996The Georgetown LoopFilm · Director
- 1995Looting For RodneyFilm · Director
- 1995Make Light On FilmMake Light On FilmFilm · Director
- 1994Bitemporal Vision: The SeaFilm · Director
- 1991Opening the Nineteenth Century: 1896Film · Director, Writer
- 1991Keaton's CopsFilm · Director, Writer
- 1990ChronometerFilm · Director
- 1986The Alps and The JewsThe Alps and The JewsFilm · Director
- 1985Perfect FilmFilm · Director
- 1977The Doctor's DreamFilm · Director
- 1977Book of Splendors, Part Two, Book of Levers: Action at a DistanceFilm · Director
- 1976Spaghetti AzaFilm · Director
- 1975Urban PeasantsFilm · Director
- 1975Jerry Takes A Back Seat, Then Passes Out Of The PictureFilm · Director
- 1973Changing AzazelChanging AzazelFilm · Director
- 1970Binghamton, My IndiaFilm · Director
- 1969Nissan Ariana WindowNissan Ariana WindowFilm · Director
- 1969Tom, Tom, the Piper's SonFilm · Director
- 1969GlobeFilm · Director
- 1968Soft RainFilm · Director
- 1967For Life, Against the WarFilm · Director
- 1967AirshaftFilm · Director
- 1966The Sky SocialistFilm · Director
- 1965Lisa and Joey in ConnecticutFilm · Director
- 1965Naomi Is A Dream of LovelinessNaomi Is A Dream of LovelinessFilm · Director
- 19641st WindowFilm · Director
- 1964WindowFilm · Director, Editor, Cinematography, Producer
- 1964We Stole AwayWe Stole AwayFilm · Director
- 1964The Winter FootageFilm · Director
- 1964Winter SkyWinter SkyFilm · Director
- 1964Artie and Marty Rosenblatt’s Baby PicturesFilm · Director
- 1963Little Stabs at HappinessFilm · Director
- 1963TV PlugFilm · Director
- 1963Blonde CobraFilm · Director★ 3.0
- 1962Baud'larian CapersFilm · Director
- 1961The Death of P'townFilm · Director
- 1956Saturday Afternoon Blood SacrificeFilm · Director
- 1956Little Cobra DanceFilm · Director
- 1955Orchard StreetFilm · Director
