Yoko Ono — Japanese multimedia artist, musician and peace activist

Artistic practice and characteristics

Ono’s practice is often described as conceptual and participatory. She produced instruction-based pieces and short textual scores that invite interpretation and action by viewers. Her early performance piece "Cut Piece"—performed in the 1960s—invited audience members to remove pieces of the artist’s clothing, a work frequently cited in discussions of performance and feminist art. She also published a collection of instructions and ideas titled Grapefruit, which influenced later generations of artists working with chance, instruction and collaboration.

Music and collaborations

As a musician and experimental vocalist, Ono blended nontraditional vocal techniques, noise, and lyrical fragments with rock and avant-garde structures. She formed the Plastic Ono Band for recordings and live events and released several albums of experimental and pop-leaning material. Her musical collaborations with John Lennon included joint recordings, activism-oriented projects and public performances that merged music and message.

Public life, activism and reception

Ono and Lennon staged high-profile peace actions such as the "Bed-Ins for Peace" and other public demonstrations; these events combined media attention with a call for nuclear disarmament and peace. Public response to Ono has been mixed: she has been praised for innovation and persistence, while also facing criticism and controversy, particularly in relation to the Beatles’ later years. Over time, art historians and musicians have reassessed her influence on contemporary art and experimental music.

Personal life

Ono was previously married to composer Toshi Ichiyanagi (1956–1963) and to Anthony Cox (1963–1969). She married John Lennon in 1969 and is his widow following his death. She has two children: Kyoko Chan Cox (from her marriage to Cox) and Sean Lennon (with Lennon). Ono has been active in preserving and presenting both her own work and Lennon’s legacy.

Notable works and legacy

Key works and projects often listed in discussions of Ono’s career include the instruction book Grapefruit, the performance Cut Piece, the Plastic Ono Band recordings, and numerous installations and film projects. Her influence reaches across contemporary art, performance practice and experimental music. For a fuller picture of her exhibitions, recordings and publications, see artist biographies and curated resources such as those held by major museums and music archives.

• John Lennon — notable collaborator and spouse
• Grapefruit — collection of instruction pieces
• Cut Piece — signature performance work