Erwin Wurm
b. 1954
Erwin Wurm, born in 1954 in Bruck an der Mur, Styria, is one of the most internationally renowned Austrian artists working today. He first studied art history and German studies at the University of Graz, then at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and at the University of Applied Arts and the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. From 2002 to 2010 he was a professor at the University of Applied Arts Vienna. Wurm expands the notion of sculpture to include time, action and humour. He became known for his “One Minute Sculptures”, in which people briefly become sculptures themselves by posing with everyday objects. Works such as “Fat Car”, “Fat House” and “Narrow House” deal with consumption, status and body image. In 2013 he received the Grand Austrian State Prize. In 2017 he represented Austria together with Brigitte Kowanz at the 57th Venice Biennale. In 2024 the Albertina Modern in Vienna presented a comprehensive retrospective to mark his 70th birthday.
Works
Biography
Education 1974–1977 Art history and German studies, University of Graz 1977–1979 Art and craft education (sculpture), Mozarteum University Salzburg 1979–1982 University of Applied Arts Vienna and Academy of Fine Arts Vienna Solo exhibitions (selection) 2024 Erwin Wurm. Die Retrospektive zum 70. Geburtstag, Albertina Modern, Vienna 2017 Fat House, Belvedere, Vienna 2010 Liquid Reality, Kunstmuseum Bonn 2010 Narrow Mist, UCCA Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing 2007 Musée d'Art Contemporain de Lyon, Lyon 2006 Keep a Cool Head, mumok – Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien, Vienna 2006 The Artist Who Swallowed The World, Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst, Aachen 2005 Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati 2005 Museu do Chiado – Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea, Lisbon 2004 I Love My Time, I Don't Like My Time. Recent Works, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco 2003 ZKM Center for Art and Media, Karlsruhe 2001 Performance Drawings, The Drawing Center, New York Group exhibitions (selection) 2025 Gallery 303. Echoes of Pop Art, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao 2024 Glasstress 8½, Tesa 99 Arsenale Nord and Fondazione Berengo Art Space, Murano 2019 Bienalsur 2019, MARQ, Buenos Aires 2018 The Street. Where the World is Made, MAXXI, Rome 2017 57th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, Austrian Pavilion (with Brigitte Kowanz), Venice 2011 Glasstress 2011, Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti, Venice (collateral event of the 54th Venice Biennale) Awards 2024 Grand Josef Krainer Prize 2022 Honorary doctorate, University of Belgrade 2015 Appreciation Award of the State of Styria 2015 Silver Commander's Cross of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the State of Lower Austria 2013 Grand Austrian State Prize 2004 Art Prize of the City of Graz 1993 Prize of the City of Vienna for Fine Arts 1984 Otto Mauer Prize Collections Albertina, Vienna Belvedere, Vienna mumok, Vienna MAK, Vienna Centre Pompidou, Paris Tate, London MoMA, New York Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice Museum Ludwig, Cologne Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk Publications 2015 Erwin Wurm: Disruption 2011 Erwin Wurm: Narrow House 2009 Erwin Wurm 2006 The Artist Who Swallowed the World