THOMAS SCHÜTTE

Thomas Schütte is considered one of the most important artists today and probably the most significant contemporary German sculptor. In addition to regular participation at Documenta, he was awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale in 2005. His artistic work focuses on drawing and watercolor, architecture models and the human figure. With his sculptures and models created with a large variety of materials, he enables viewers to experience emotions, physical sensations as well as the definition of space. Between wit, irony and sharp social criticism, he finds the most diverse expressions of human existence – sensual, subversive and multi-layered. Through conscious consideration of materials and production processes, he creates a tremendously broad and often experimental spectrum that ranges from works in highly polished aluminum, iron and bronze all the way to exemplary, handmade ceramics with rough surfaces. His masterful graphic oeuvre stands as an independent area of work alongside the sculptural projects. The drawings and watercolors are often created as grouped pieces and large series, and show, in contrast to his sculptural work, a serious and contemplative side of the artist.

Thomas Schütte was born in Oldenburg in 1954. He lives and works in Düsseldorf.