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
2025
Franz West, Tim Van Laere Gallery, Antwerp
Franz West: Die frühen Werke / Early Works, Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Zurich
2024
Franz West: Millennium Park, Millennium Park, Chicago
2023
Franz West:Echolalia, David Zwirner, Los Angeles
Franz West, Weihburggasse 27, Vienna
2022
Galerie Elisabeth & Klaus Thoman, Vienna
2021
Franz West. Last decades, CAC Málaga, Malaga
2020
Franz West, Galerie Gisela Capitain, Albertusstrasse, Cologne
2019
Franz West, Tate Modern, London
Franz West, David Zwirner, London
Franz West: Indoor Sculptures, Omer Tiroche Gallery, London
Franz West: Works 1989-2011, Gagosian Gallery, Rome
2018
Franz West, Centre Pompidou, Paris
Sisyphos Sculptures, Gagosian, London
Franz West – Parcours hors les murs, Musée Cognacq-Jay, Paris
2017
Franz West, Works 1970–2010, Gagosian Gallery, Geneva
Franz West, Tim Van Laere Gallery, Antwerp
Franz West: The Mathis Esterhazy Collection, Galerie Mezzanin, Geneva
2016
Artistclub, 21er Haus, Vienna
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
2012
Franz West: Man with a Ball, Gagosian Gallery, London
2011
Kunsthaus Graz, Graz
Franz West: Furniture, Gagosian Gallery, Athens
Franz West, Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Zurich
2010
Museum Ludwig, Cologne
Franz West: Roman Room, Gagosian Gallery, Rome
2009
Fondation Beyeler, Basel
Franz West: Auto-Theatre, Museum Ludwig, Cologne, Cologne
Franz West: The Garden Of Earthly Delights, Lower Belvedere, Vienna
Franz West, f 5,6, Munich
Franz West, Museo Tamayo, Bosque de Chapultepec, Mexico City
Franz West, To Build a House You Start with the Roof: Work, 1972–2008, LACMA, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles
2008
Museum für angewandte Kunst, Vienna
Franz West: To Build a House You Start with the Roof – Work, 1972-2008, Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore
Franz West: Passtück, Gagosian Gallery, New York
Passstuecke, Gagosian Gallery, New York
Franz West: Asymmetrische Kunst, Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Zurich
ASYMMETRISCHE KUNST, Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Zurich
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