Wien, 1947 – 2012.
His career began in the field of painting, and then turned to collage and the creation of large-scale or portable sculptures, often made of papier-mâché, polyester, aluminum and wire, which he calls “Adaptives”. Working with inexpensive materials such as papier-mâché and plaster, West creates playful and fun sculptures, brightly colored, highlighting our interactions with art and with each other. His works are in important collections including: Tate Modern, London; MoMA Museum of Modern Art, New York; muhka, Antwerpen; Museo MADRE, Naples. In 1986 he was awarded the Otto Mauer-Preis avienna, in 1993 he received the Skulpturenpreis der Generali Foundation and in 1998 the Wolfgang-Hahn-Preis, Museum Ludwig, in Cologne. In 2011 he received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale and a Medal for Science and Arts.
Selected recent exhibitions
2023
Franz West:Echolalia, David Zwirner, Los Angeles
Franz West, Weihburggasse 27, Vienna
2019
Franz West, Tate Modern, London
2017
Franz West, Works 1970–2010, Gagosian Gallery, Geneva
2015
Franz West: Moebelskulpturen/Furniture Works, Gagosian Gallery, New York
Franz West, Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Zurich
2014
Franz West, Where is My Eight? Hepworth Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Franz West, Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, MA
Franz West: Les Pommes d’Adam. Hall Art Foundation at MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA
2013
Franz West: Where is My Eight?, Museum fur Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt
MUMOK, Vienna
2011
Kunsthaus Graz, Graz
2010
Museum Ludwig, Cologne
2009
Fondation Beyeler, Basel
2008
Museum für angewandte Kunst, Vienna
2007
Mario Sequeira Gallery, Braga
2006
Galerie Gisela Captain, Cologne
2005
Gagosian Gallery, Beverly Hills
2004
Galeria Juana de Aizpuru, Madrid
2003
Whitechapel Art Gallery, London
2002
Deichtorhallen, Hamburg
2000
Renaissance Society, Chicago
1997
Museum of Modern Art, New York