FRANZ GRAF

The drawing has always been the major element in Franz Grafs work. The use of language, and the combination of figurative elements and geometrical or ornamental forms, add a poetic dimension to his work. With his unique creation of word and font design he generates a completely independent pictorial language, based on strong contrasts. Through the skilful combination of different materials, associative room installations are created. Drawings, objects and photographs combined to form a multi-layered whole. The classical media is exceeded, by connecting drawing and painting, forming canvases into objects and objects into art. Not only the connection of visual art is essential in his work, music and language are also inherent in Grafs oeuvre.

Franz Graf born 1954 in Tulln, Austria, lives and works in Vienna. After his studies at theUniversity for Applied Arts Vienna in the class of Oswald Oberhuber he was working together with the artist Brigitte Kowanz from the late 70s until 1984. From 1997 until 2006 Graf was teaching at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna.

Selection of solo and group exhibitions: Franz Graf: We don’t Talk To Strangers, Büro Weltausstellung, Vienna, Austria (2018), Franz Graf, Künstlerhaus Bregenz Austria (2017), Die 90er Jahre: Subversive Imaginationen, Wien Museum, Austria (2017), Die Sprache der Dinge—Materialgeschichten aus der Sammlung, 21er Haus, Vienna, Austria (2016), Siehe was dich sieht, 21er Haus/Belvedere Vienna, Austria (2014), Franz Graf. FUN (ALTERNATIVE(BEGRAEBNISSE = E RAL, Galerie Krinzinger, Vienna, Austria (2013), CANBE MONOCHROME (BLACK-AND-WHITE) OR COLORED, WITH OR WITHOUT ACCOMPANYING SOUND, Galerie Krinzinger, Vienna, Austria (2012), Final Song First, MAK, Vienna, Austria (2009), (eleg`i :), Austria (2008Körpernah, Galerie Krinzinger, Vienna, Austria (1993), 7. Biennale von Sydney, Australia (1988), Galerie Krinzinger, Innsbruck, Austria (1980).