Olaf Metzel
Basic Data
Olaf Metzel is a famous German object artist and sculptor. He was born in West Berlin in 1952, where he studied at Freie Universität Berlin and at Berlin University of Arts. Today, Olaf Metzel works as professor at Akademie der Bildenden Künste in Munich.
- Born: 1952
- Place of birth: Berlin
- Nationality: German
- Studied at: Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin University of Arts
- Occupation: sculptor and object artist
- Era: Contemporary art
- Stylstic direction: sculpture, object art, figurative art
Biography
The German sculptor and object artist Olaf Metzel was born in Berlin in 1952. Metzel studied from at the Free University of Berlin and the Berlin University of the Arts. Early in his career he showed an interest in using his artworks to initiate political and social discussions.
Olaf Metzel's works are often to be understood as reactions to current political or social events. He often uses everyday materials and objects, such as scrap metal, barrier grids, or discarded stadium seats, in his installations and transforms them to create new meanings and contexts. His works are often controversial and challenge the viewer to think about established norms and views.
Olaf Metzel's works have received extensive national and international recognition. He has exhibited in numerous galleries and museums and has been awarded various art prizes and grants. Today, Metzel lives and works in Munich.
Exhibitions
- 15.08.2021 - 31.10.2021 Fahrradkörper – Städtische Galerie Delmenhorst.
- 07.08.2021 - 26.09.2021 Wahlweise – ein Ausstellungsprojekt - KW/RANDLAGE Worpswede.
- 30.04.2021 - 10.07.2021 compressed time - FS.ART, Berlin.
- 18.06.2020 - 08.11.2020 GARTENDERGEGENWART - Salon der Gegenwart / GARTENDERGEGENWART, Hamburg.
- 30.03.2019 - 05.01. 2020 So wie wir sind 1.0 – Weserburg Bremen.
- 21.03. 2019 - 26.05.2019 GLOBAL NATIONAL - Haus am Lützowplatz, Berlin.
- 25.05.2018 - 20.07.2018 Olaf Metzel - Heimo Zobernig - Galleria Gentili, Florence.
- 22.02.2018 - 21.05.2018 Skizzenbuchgeschichte(n) - Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich.
- 14.12.2017 - 29.04.2018 a good neighbour - Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich.
- 30.04.2016 - 30.10.2016 Zeichnungsräume - Hamburger Kunsthalle. Hamburg.
Awards
- 1994: Arnold-Bode-Prize, Kassel.
- 1996: Wilhelm-Loth-Prize, Darmstadt.
- 2001: Ernst Barlach Prize, Hamburg.
- 2005: Kunstpreis of the city Munich.
- 2010: Lichtwark-Prize, Hamburg.
- 2013: mfi Prize for Art on construction.
- 2016: Culture prize Bayern.
- 2018: Jerg-Ratgeb-Prize, Reutlingen.
Films
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BEING OLAF METZEL, by: Bernd Schöppner and Florian Waldvogel, 45 min, Germany 2015.
Literature
- Mir ist das schwarze Quadrat lieber als die rote Fahne, exhibition catalog, Herbert Eichhorn (Publ.), Cologne 2018.
- Olaf Metzel at Ein Harod, picture book, Olaf Metzel, Berlin 2018.
- Dermaßen regiert zu werden, exhibition catalog, Eva Kraus (Publ.), Vienna 2015.
- Olaf Metzel - from the TV to the fridge, exhibition catalog, Karin Pernegger (Publ.), Cologne 2015.
- Olaf Metzel. Kaffee, Zeitung, Zigaretten, exhibition catalog, Sabine Weingartner & Matthia Löbke (Publ.), Cologne 2013.
Collections
Germany
- Berlin - Burger Collection
- Bonn - Sammlung zeitgenössischer Kunst der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
- Dusseldorf - K20/K21 - Kunstsammlung Nordrhein Westfalen
- Frankfurt - Sammlung Deutsche Bank
- Frankfurt - DZ BANK Kunstsammlung
- Hamburg - Hamburger Kunsthalle
- Karlsruhe - ZKM | Karlsruhe
- Munich – Pinakothek der Moderne
Weblinks
- Olaf Metzel Kunstaspekte exhibition and collection overview.