Bruno Kurz

German

Bruno Kurz was born in 1957 in Langenargen, Lake Constance. He currently lives and works in Karlsruhe, Germany. Kurz spent many years studying art abroad in Egypt, Mexico Asia and India. In 1984 he began his teaching career with Foundation of ARTwork, courses for adults. Since 1987 he has given various lectures including at the College of Education (Ka), Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe, the National Academy Schloss Rotenfels, and the European Art Academy in Trier.

His most recent series “Lago Maggiore” was inspired by the wondrous landscape of Lake Maggiore. A remote stone cottage only accessible by footpath became his en plein air studio. From this distant vantage, the artist has captured a most unique and arresting impression of the area’s endless natural beauty.

The Lava series was produced after a ten day trip to Iceland during the summer of 2013. While in Iceland, Kurz was heavily drawn to the pristine nature and awe-inspiring landscapes. The Argyll (2012) and Hebrides Cycles (2001 and 2012) were inspired by journeys Kurz made in the winter of 1999 and then 2012 to the Hebrides, a cluster of islands off the coast of Scotland. In winter months Atlantic storms pound the western coast of Scotland and the days are short. Light changes quickly, clouds dart overhead, winds howl, tempestuous seas surround these sparsely populated isles. The series is characterized by expressive paintwork in which cracked surfaces, layers of colour and traces of pastose serve as contrast to a metallic background. Horizontal layers provide the colours a clear compositional order. The recent works from the Hebrides Cycle again exude their typical sense of contemplative calm. At the same time, their colour space appears to pulsate in fields of light. (Several paintings in this series are named after Lucifer, a deity in Roman myth who personified the Morning Star and whose name means ‘Light-Bringer’.) Reflective surfaces – consisting of resin, India ink glazes or transparent silk gauzes layered over a vertically delineated metal background – afford the works a striking luminosity and shimmering colour spectrum.

Depending on the incidence of light and position of the viewer, the paintings may be perceived in a variety of ways. The multiple viewpoints offered by the works are the hallmark of their vitality.

 

Bruno Kurz & Rafael, artist studio, Karlsruhe, Germany

 

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2022 Odon Wagner Gallery, Toronto, ON
Galerie Reitz, Switzerland
2021 Galerie Reitz,  Zürich, Switzerland
Odon Wagner Gallery, Toronto, ON
Von Fraunberg Art Gallery, Germany
Galerie Reitz, Germany
2020 Galerie Cyprian Brenner, Germany
Galerie Mollwo, Switzerland
2019 Calerie Cyprian Brenner, Germany
Von Fraunberg Art Gallery, Germany
Odon Wagner Contemporary, Toronto, ON
2018 Galerie P13, Heidelberg, Germany
Galerie Reitz, Cologne, Germany
Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany
Galerie Reitz, Cologne, Germany
Galerie Cyprian Brenner, Hüttlingen, Germany
2017 Odon Wagner Contemporary, Toronto, ON
Galerie Mollwo, Riehen, Switzerland
Museum im Kleihues-Bau, Kornwestheim, Germany
Galerie Cyprian Brenner, Hüttlingen, Germany
2016 Galerie Cyprian Brenner, Hüttlingen, Germany
Galerie Cyprian Brenner, Hüttlingen, Germany
Galerie P13, Heidelberg, Germany
Odon Wagner Contemporary, Toronto, ON
2015
2014 Odon Wagner Contemporary, Toronto, ON
Galerie Wesner, Art Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany
Galerie Schrade, Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany
2013 Galerie p 13, Heidelberg, Germany
Galerie Rigassi, Bern, Switzerland
Galerie Wesner, Konstanz, Germany
One artist show, Art Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany
2012 Odon Wagner Contemporary, Toronto, ON
2011 Galerie Mollwo, Basel/Riehen, Switzerland
2010 Galerie Peerlings, Krefeld, Germany
Galerie Alfred Knecht, Karlsruhe, Germany
Galerie P13, Heidelberg, Germany
2009 Galerie Wesner, Konstanz, Germany
Galerie Fetzer, Sontheim an der Brenz, Germany
2008 Galerie Mollwo, Riehen, Germany
2007 Galerie Konigsblau, Stuttgart, Germany
2003 Galerie Alfred Knecht, Karlsruhe, Germany

Selected Group Exhibitions

2022 Art Toronto, Odon Wagner Gallery, Toronto, ON
Art Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Galerie Voigt, Germany
2012-19 Art Toronto, Odon Wagner Contemporary, Toronto, ON
2015 Kunst 15 Zurich, Galerie Wesner, Kunst Zürich
Art Karlsruhe, Art Fair, Galerie Wesner, Messe Karlsruhe, Germany
2014 Kunst Oberschwaben 20. Century, Germany
ART.FAIR Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Kunst Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
2013 Odon Wagner Contemporary, Toronto, ON
Kunst Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
Art Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany
2011 Galerie Mollwo, Riehen, Germany
2010 Zentrum fur Kunst und Medientechnologie Karlsruhe, Germany
Galerie Mollwo, Riehen, Germany
Galerie Schindel, Freiburg, Germany
2006 Galerie Mollwo, Riehen, Germany
2005 Galerie Mariette Haas, Ingolstadt, Germany
2003 Galerie Epikur, Wuppertal, Germany
1991 Kunstverein Heilbronn, Germany

Scholarships & Awards

2006 Project funding of the Federal Cultural Foundation Germany
2004 Co-Founder Exhibition Platform “Neuer Kunstraum Karlsruhe”
1998 Travel Grant for the project, “Heimat” to Northern Europe
1988-89 Grant from the Arts Foundation of Baden-Württemberg
1986 Project Grant from the Art Fund Bonn

Education

1992-93 Postgraduate Studies in Interdisciplinary Media at Academy of Fine Art, Stuttgart, Germany
1981-87 State Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe, Germany
1980-81 Independent College of Fine Art in Stuttgart, Germany