1936
Lucas Samaras is born on September 14 in Kastoria, Greece.
1948
Emigrates to West New York, New Jersey.
1950s
After entering the art world as a participant in a number of Happenings, begins making independent work.
1955
Begins studying with Allan Kaprow at Rutgers University, New Jersey.
Late 1950s-60s
Studies acting at the Stella Adler Conservatory in New York.
1959
Graduates from Rutgers University and receives a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship to study at Columbia University.
1960
Creates his first box.
1964
Moves to New York.
1969
Begins making his “AutoPolaroids” series. His first film, Self, premieres at the Museum of Modern Art, New York.
1971
Samaras’ first retrospective is held at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago and his first monograph, Lucas Samaras’ Boxes, is published.
1973
Begins his “Photo-Transformations” series.
1981-83, 1988-89
Traveling retrospectives are organized by the Denver Museum of Art. The latter travels to six American Museums.
2004
Over 400 works are exhibited in Unrepentent Ego: The Self-Portraits of Lucas Samaras at the Whitney Museum of Art, New York.
2009
Represents Greece at the 53rd Venice Biennale with Paraxena