Olaf Metzel

Olaf Metzel’s oeuvre deals with the public sphere we all share. As has generally been the case with his projects since the 1980s, the artworks address the entire spectrum of social issues ranging from politics to the arts, economy and sports. The artist portrays our era, lending it a shape, highlighting current topics, and prompting us to think about virulent socio-cultural questions. For a sculptor however, the main objective lies in creating three-dimensional images of our society. Metzel’s pieces are both portraits of our time and powerful material constructs. In terms of their formal aesthetics and in the elaboration of their details, his largespatial installations truly are sculptures. He draws inspiration from the pool of objects we surrounded ourselves with, as well as from the world of images connected to everyday political themes in the press. This gives rise to various allusions to everyday events, while at the same time placing his work in an arthistorical context.

He had numerous solo exhibitions in Germany and abroad, as well as participated amongst others in documenta 8, Sculpture Projects Munster (1987 and 1997), Sydney Biennial (1990), Istanbul Biennial (1995), and Sao Paulo Biennial (2002). Metzel´s prizes inlclude the Villa Massimo Prize (Rome, 1987), the Arnold Bode Prize (Kassel, 1994), the Wilhelm Loth Prize (Darmstadt, 1997), the Lichtwark Prize (Hamburg, 2010), and the mfi Graduate Award (Essen, 2014). Public sculptures by Metzel can be seen in Germany, Europe, and Asia. He has curated many exhibitions – for example in 2006 as part of the Berlin Biennale – and published numerous contributions in newspapers and magazines. Metzel lives and works in Munich.

Olaf Metzel was born in 1952 in Berlin. From 1990 to 2019, he was a Professor of Sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. He lives and works in Munich, Berlin, and Marche, Italy.

He had numerous solo exhibitions in Germany and abroad: Kunstforum Rottweil, DE (2022) | Edition Block, Berlin, DE (2019) | Städtisches Kunstmuseum Spendhaus Reutlingen, DE (2018) | Museum of Art Ein Harod, Kibbutz Ein Harod, IS (2018) | Neue Pinakothek, Munich, DE (2016) | Neues Museum Nürnberg, Nuremberg, DE (2015) | Kunsthal 44 Møen, Askeby, DK (2015) | Kunstraum Innsbruck, AT (2014) | Museum Küppersmühle für Moderne Kunst, Duisburg, DE | Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg, DE (2010) | Schinkel-Pavillion, Berlin, DE (2009) | Von der Heydt-Museum, Wuppertal, DE (2007) | Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, DE (2006) | Hamburger Kunsthalle, DE (2006) | Haus am Waldsee, Berlin, DE (1999) | Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Munich, DE (1996) | Westfälisches Landesmuseum, Münster, DE (1990).

Metzel has participated in many biennales, including the Istanbul Biennial (2015 and 1995) | Brussels Biennial (2008) | Sao Paulo Biennale (2001) | Skulptur-Projekte Münster (1997 and 1987) | Sydney Biennial (1990 and 1984) | documenta 8 (1987).

Olaf Metzel has received numerous prizes and awards, for example, the Arnold-Bode Preis, Kassel (1994) | the Wilhelm-Loth-Preis, Darmstadt (1997) | the Lichtwark-Preis, Hamburg (2010) | the Jerg-Ratgeb-Preis (2018).

Olaf Metzel’s sculptures in public spaces are to be found in Germany, other European countries, and Asia.

Works by Olaf Metzel are part of numerous public and private collections, including Museum Ludwig, Cologne, DE | Kunstsammlung NRW, Düsseldorf, DE | Hamburger Kunsthalle | Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich, DE | Lenbachhaus, Munich, DE | Neues Museum Nuremberg, DE | Kunsthalle Bremen, DE | Staatliche Museen zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz (Kupferstichkabinett), DE | Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, DE | Sammlung Deutsche Bank, Frankfurt, DE | Munich Re Art Collection, Munich, DE | ZKM, Karlsruhe, DE | Sammlung Falckenberg, Hamburg, DE | Sammlung René Block, Berlin, DE | Böckmann Collection, Berlin, DE | Sammlung Hollweg, Bremen, DE | Collezione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin, IT | Vehbi Koç-Foundation, Istanbul, TR and The Margulies Collection, Miami, US.