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 recent 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 journies 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.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2019 | 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
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 |