James Lee Byars, letter mailed to Tommy Longo, 1975

Handwritten text in black on black tissue paper, 51 x 50 cm, folded to 7 x 6.5 cm. With the original postmarked black envelope, 11.5 x 16.5 cm, featuring the artist's signature handwriting in white. The envelope was handmade by the artist and shows tissue remnants to reverse. Letter with folds and some creases (see pictures). Good condition.

Conceptual and performance artist James Lee Byars (Detroit 1932- Cairo 1997) lived a nomadic life. In the late 1960s and 70s, he spent much of his time between Belgium and Germany, periodically travelling to Amsterdam, Paris, Italy and the United States. When he visited Los Angeles, Byars enlisted the help of Tommy Longo, a neighbor of his patrons, gallerist Eugenia Butler and attorney James Butler, to drive him around the city. A lifelong friendship between Byars and Longo followed, Longo kept in touch through letters and postcards.