Rauschenberg Returns With a Masterpiece of Postmodern Dance

The iconic collaboration with Trisha Brown and Laurie Anderson comes home, reaffirming Rauschenberg's deep ties to the dance world.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Robert Rauschenberg Centenary continues with the return of the postmodern masterpiece "Set and Reset", a collaborative performance with choreographer Trisha Brown and artist Laurie Anderson that originally debuted at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1983. The performances will run at BAM from February 26 through 28 as part of the Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels program, with Rauschenberg's scenography, including a sculptural structure containing projected films, as well as the stage and silkscreened costumes he designed.

Why it matters

The return of "Set and Reset" highlights Rauschenberg's deep ties to the dance world, as he collaborated with Brown and Anderson on the piece and also choreographed 13 experimental works between 1963 and 1970. The performance demonstrates Rauschenberg's multifaceted artistic practice that blurred the lines between art, dance, and the real world.

The details

"Set and Reset" is based on improvisation that was then recorded and choreographed to Anderson's synth-driven soundtrack. The Trisha Brown Dance Company will also perform Rauschenberg's 1977 work "Travelogue", which hasn't been seen since 1979 and was a collaboration with Merce Cunningham. The program "Dancing with Bob: Rauschenberg, Brown and Cunningham Onstage" will then travel to Beverly Hills to wrap up the tour in April.

  • The performances of "Set and Reset" will run at BAM from February 26 through 28, 2026.
  • The program "Dancing with Bob: Rauschenberg, Brown and Cunningham Onstage" will travel to Beverly Hills in April 2026 to wrap up the tour.

The players

Robert Rauschenberg

An American artist known for his innovative and multidisciplinary practice that blurred the lines between art, dance, and the real world. He created the scenography, including a sculptural structure and silkscreened costumes, for "Set and Reset".

Trisha Brown

An American choreographer who collaborated with Rauschenberg on "Set and Reset" and several other dance works over a five-decade period. She and Rauschenberg first met when she was a student at the Merce Cunningham Dance Studio.

Laurie Anderson

An American artist and musician who collaborated with Rauschenberg and Brown on the music for "Set and Reset", providing a synth-driven soundtrack for the improvised and choreographed performance.

Merce Cunningham

An American choreographer who collaborated with Rauschenberg on the 1977 dance work "Travelogue", which is part of the "Dancing with Bob" program.

Jamie Scott

The programming director of the Trisha Brown Dance Company who worked on the project to bring "Set and Reset" and "Travelogue" back to the stage.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Working with both Trisha Brown and Laurie Anderson will be one of the most unique theatrical challenges in my career. None of us are into extravagant spectacles. We all three are singularly used to our self-made one man shows, which always include space and economy as part of the aesthetics. I am well aware of the independence of each artist. The risk and expertise rely on what kind of room we make for each other. No one could be more curious about this than I am.”

— Robert Rauschenberg (Artnet News)

“Going back and looking at their letters to each other, the interviews they've done, and the amount of artistic admiration between them, there's a palpable love and friendship infused in the building of these works. He collaborated on the lighting, scenery, and costume design for several of her pieces. Set and Reset was probably one of her most iconic works. The visual arts are really part of the fabric of the dance and how it operates.”

— Jamie Scott, Programming Director, Trisha Brown Dance Company (Artnet News)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.