Maria Lassnig
Encyclopedia
Maria Lassnig is an Austria
n artist. Her paintings are an exploration of the body, a central theme which she calls "body awareness".
In the 1950s she was part of the Hundsgruppe, which also included Arnulf Rainer
, Ernst Fuchs
, Anton Lehmden
, Arik Brauer
and Wolfgang Hollegha
. The works of the group were influenced by Abstract Expressionism
and action painting
.
She was the first woman artist to win the Grand Austrian State Prize
in 1988, and was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art in 2005.
She represented Austria, with Valie Export
, at the Venice Biennale
in 1980, and has twice exhibited at documenta
. In 1996 a retrospective of her work was held at the Centre Georges Pompidou
. In 2008 an exhibition of her recent paintings was shown at the Serpentine Gallery
and tours to the Contemporary Arts Center in the Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 27, 2008-January 11, 2009. The exhibition is curated by Julia Peyton-Jones and Hans Ulrich Obrist
in association with Rebecca Morrill and features thirty canvases and seven films.
Her works are held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art
.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n artist. Her paintings are an exploration of the body, a central theme which she calls "body awareness".
In the 1950s she was part of the Hundsgruppe, which also included Arnulf Rainer
Arnulf Rainer
Arnulf Rainer , is an Austrian painter and is internationally renowned for his abstract informal art.In his early years, Rainer was influenced by Surrealism...
, Ernst Fuchs
Ernst Fuchs (artist)
Ernst Fuchs is an Austrian painter, draftsman, printmaker, sculptor, architect, stage designer, composer, poet, singer and one of the founders of the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism. In 1972 he acquired the derelict Otto Wagner Villa in Hütteldorf, which he restored and transformed...
, Anton Lehmden
Anton Lehmden
Anton Lehmden is an Austrian painter, draughtsman, and printmaker.Lehmden was a co-founder, together with Ernst Fuchs, Rudolf Hausner, Arik Brauer and Wolfgang Hutter, of the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism...
, Arik Brauer
Arik Brauer
Arik Brauer is an Austrian painter, draughtsman, printmaker, poet, dancer, singer and stage designer. He resides in Vienna and Ein Hod, Israel. Brauer is a co-founder of the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism, together with Ernst Fuchs, Rudolf Hausner, Wolfgang Hutter and Anton Lehmden.Erich...
and Wolfgang Hollegha
Wolfgang Hollegha
Wolfgang Hollegha is an Austrian painter.- Biography :Hollegha was born in in Klagenfurt, Kärnten/Carinthia. From 1947 to 1954 he studied at the Akademie der bildenden Künste in Vienna with Josef Dobrovsky and Herbert Boeckl. In 1956, together with Josef Mikl, Markus Prachensky and Arnulf Rainer,...
. The works of the group were influenced by Abstract Expressionism
Abstract expressionism
Abstract expressionism was an American post–World War II art movement. It was the first specifically American movement to achieve worldwide influence and put New York City at the center of the western art world, a role formerly filled by Paris...
and action painting
Action painting
Action painting sometimes called "gestural abstraction", is a style of painting in which paint is spontaneously dribbled, splashed or smeared onto the canvas, rather than being carefully applied...
.
She was the first woman artist to win the Grand Austrian State Prize
Grand Austrian State Prize
The Grand Austrian State Prize is a decoration given annually by Austria to an artist for exceptional work. The recipient must be an Austrian citizen with a permanent residence in Austria....
in 1988, and was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art in 2005.
She represented Austria, with Valie Export
Valie Export
Valie Export is an Austrian artist...
, at the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
in 1980, and has twice exhibited at documenta
Documenta
documenta is an exhibition of modern and contemporary art which takes place every five years in Kassel, Germany. It was founded by artist, teacher and curator Arnold Bode in 1955 as part of the Bundesgartenschau which took place in Kassel at that time...
. In 1996 a retrospective of her work was held at the Centre Georges Pompidou
Centre Georges Pompidou
Centre Georges Pompidou is a complex in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement of Paris, near Les Halles, rue Montorgueil and the Marais...
. In 2008 an exhibition of her recent paintings was shown at the Serpentine Gallery
Serpentine Gallery
The Serpentine Gallery is an art gallery in Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, central London. It focuses on modern and contemporary art. The exhibitions, architecture, education and public programmes attract approximately 750,000 visitors a year...
and tours to the Contemporary Arts Center in the Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 27, 2008-January 11, 2009. The exhibition is curated by Julia Peyton-Jones and Hans Ulrich Obrist
Hans Ulrich Obrist
Hans Ulrich Obrist is a contemporary art curator, critic and historian of art. He is currently Co-director of Exhibitions and Programmes and Director of International Projects at the Serpentine Gallery, London...
in association with Rebecca Morrill and features thirty canvases and seven films.
Her works are held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
.