Oskar Höfinger
Austrian
Oskar Höfinger was born in Austria in 1935. He apprenticed at a ceramic factory and trained to become a ceramic designer under the tutelage of Hans Scheibner, a sculptor, painter, and designer. He proceeded to study at the Technical College of Wood and Stonework Sculpture at Salzburg from 1952-56. Expanding his education, he enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts at Vienna from 1956-61. Höfinger’s training with Professor Hans Andre was a pivotal moment, where he became a sculptor and immersed himself in the international avant garde art world.
An expressionistic phase was followed by an interest in monumental Cubist experiments during the 1960’s. Höfinger’s geometric and minimal work explores elements of symbolism, light and shadow. His unique visualization of space reduces the representational to an angular, quasi abstract form. Höfinger was a member of the leading association of artists, the “Viennese Secession”. Professor Oskar Höfinger died in 2022.
Awards
| 2016 | Gold Medal of Merit, City of Vienna |
| 1973 | Appointed to the Board of the Vienna Secession, Austria |
| 1971 | Prize of the City of Vienna |
| Inclusion in the Vienna Secession, Austria | |
| 1968 | Prize of the Province of Lower Austria |
| 1959 | Füger Prize (Silver Medal) |
| 1957 | Füger Prize (Silver Medal) |
Notable Public Collections
| Sculpture Park, Joanneum Universal Museum (founded 1811), Graz, Austria
Homage to Music, Europa Square, Vienna, Austria St. George’s Bridge (Danube River), Krems, Austria |
Selected Solo Exhibitions
| 2009 | Trippolt, Schruns, Austria |
| Ziwna Gallery, Palais Harrach, Vienna, Austria | |
| Franziskaner, Inge Kerschbaumer-Palacz. Vienna, Austria | |
| 2008 | Galerie Chobot, Vienna, Austria |
| 2005 | Galerie H 17, Tulbinger Kogel, Mauerbach, Vienna, Austria |
| 2002 | Gemeinschaftsausstellung Fürstenfeld, STMK |
| 2001 | Tulbinger Kogel, Mauerbach – Vienna, Austria |
| 1996 | Harrach Palace and Palais Ferstel, Vienna, Austria |
| 1994 | Gallery Studio 3, Zurich, Switzerland |
| 1992 | Austrian Cultural Institute New York, NY |
| 1990 | City Gallery Purkersdorf, Purkersdork, Austria |
| 1989 | Danube Tower Vienna Auarelle, Austria |
| 1973 | Pointner Gallery, Salzburg, Germany |
| 1971 | Auto Salon of the Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG, Vienna, Austria |
Selected Group Exhibitions
| 2016 | Art Toronto, Odon Wagner Gallery, Toronto, Canada |
| 2009 | Franciscan, Vienna with Ms. Inge Kerschbaumer-Palacz, Austria |
| 2005 | Gallery H 17, Vienna, Austria |
| 2002 | Fürstenfeld, Styria, Austria |
| 1989 | BAWAG Foundation, Vienna, Austria |
| 1974 | AAB Gallery Brescia, Italy |
