Erwin Wurm is an Austrian contemporary artist celebrated for his unique approach to sculpture and conceptual art. Born in 1954 in Bruck an der Mur, Austria, Wurm has gained international acclaim for his innovative "One Minute Sculptures," which invite viewers to participate in the creation of ephemeral art by assuming specific poses with everyday objects. His work often explores the absurdity and banality of modern life, blending humor with a critical edge.
Wurm's oeuvre includes a variety of media, from sculpture and installation to drawing and video. His thought-provoking pieces challenge traditional notions of sculpture and engage with themes of consumerism, body image, and the human condition. Notable works include his distorted car series, such as "Fat Car," which critiques societal obsession with material excess and physical appearance.
With exhibitions in major museums and galleries worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris, Erwin Wurm continues to push the boundaries of contemporary art. His playful yet profound creations invite audiences to reconsider their interactions with the world and the objects within it.
Erwin Wurm’s recent solo exhibitions at international institutions include Fosun Foundation, Shanghai (2024); Biblioteca Marciana, Venice, Italy (2024); Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield, UK (2023); Tel Aviv Museum of Art (2023); SCAD Museum, Savannah, US (2023); Suwon Museum of Art, Suwon, Korea (2022); Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Venice, Italy (2022); Museum of Contemporary Art Belgrade, Serbia (2022), MAK, Vienna, Austria (2021); Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei City, Taiwan (2020); Musée des Beaux-Arts, Musée Cantini and Centre de la Vieille Charité, Marseille, France (2019); Kunstmuseum Luzern, Luzern, Switzerland (2018). In 2017, Wurm represented Austria at the 57th Venice Biennale. His work is included in the permanent collections of major international institutions, including Tate Modern, London; The Museum of Modern Art, New York; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; Centre Pompidou, Paris; FRAC, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Marseille; FRAC, Languedoc-Roussilon, Montpellier; Albertina, Vienna; Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig - MUMOK, Vienna; Kunsthaus Bregenz, Bregenz; Essl Museum, Klosterneuburg; Nomas Foundation, Rome; NMAO National Museum of Art Osaka, Osaka; Ellipse Foundation, Alcoitão; Kunstmuseum St. Gallen, St. Gallen; among others. In September 2024, the Albertina Modern Vienna will celebrate Erwin Wurm with an extensive retrospective show on the occasion of his 70th birthday.
