Hermann Nitsch
1938–2022
Hermann Nitsch (1938 Vienna – 2022 Mistelbach, Lower Austria) is regarded as a co-founder of Viennese Actionism. He earned his diploma from the Graphische Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt in Vienna. In 1957 he began developing the idea of the Orgien Mysterien Theater. This total work of art combines painting, action, music and theatre and appeals to all the senses. From 1960 onwards he created painting actions and poured paintings. In 1971 he acquired Prinzendorf Castle in Lower Austria, where the 6-Day Play took place in 1998. Nitsch took part in documenta 5 (1972) and documenta 7 (1982). From 1989 to 2003 he taught interdisciplinary art at the Städelschule in Frankfurt am Main. He also worked as a composer and stage designer. In 2005 he received the Grand Austrian State Prize. Museums in Mistelbach (2007) and Naples (2008) are devoted to his work. His works are held by institutions including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Tate in London and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
Works
Biography
Education Diploma, Graphische Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt, Vienna Solo exhibitions (selection) 1983 Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven 1988 Nitsch – Das bildnerische Werk, Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Munich 2001 Österreichische Galerie Oberes Belvedere, Vienna 2006 Hermann Nitsch. Orgien Mysterien Theater – Retrospektive, Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin 2007 Opening of the Hermann Nitsch Museum, Mistelbach 2008 Opening of the Museo Archivio Laboratorio per le Arti Contemporanee Hermann Nitsch, Naples 2011 Bloodlines, Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver 2016 Museum Villa Stuck, Munich 2019 Nitsch. Räume aus Farbe, Albertina, Vienna 2023 Hermann Nitsch, Pace Gallery, New York Group exhibitions (selection) 1966 Destruction in Art Symposium (DIAS), London 1972 documenta 5, Kassel 1982 documenta 7, Kassel 1988 Biennale of Sydney, Sydney 1998 Out of Actions: Between Performance and the Object, 1949–1979, Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles 2011 Personal Structures, 54th Biennale di Venezia, Venice 2012 Explosion! Painting as Action, Moderna Museet, Stockholm 2012 A Bigger Splash: Painting after Performance, Tate Modern, London 2013 55th Biennale di Venezia, Venice Awards 2005 Grand Austrian State Prize, Vienna 2008 Honorary doctorate, University of Cluj, Romania Collections Museum of Modern Art, New York Guggenheim Collection, New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Tate, London Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven Museum Ludwig, Cologne Nationalgalerie, Berlin Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Munich mumok – Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig, Vienna Sammlung Essl, Klosterneuburg Publications 1969 Orgien Mysterien Theater 1990 Das Orgien Mysterien Theater