CLEMENS WOLF

Clemens Wolf, born 1981, lives and works in Vienna, Austria. Since his graduation at the University of Arts Linz, he is fascinated by dilapidated material like fences in front of dumps, abandoned warehouses and unfinished buildings.

In his latest works, he sets his main focus on the process of transformation haunted by his own history. Old discarded parachutes (he is a passionate parachutist) are transformed into sensual objects. After they are immersed in epoxide resin they are layed out in tondi, hung or stand up as sculpture or stretched on frames as paintings, every crease being arranged meticulously and finally left to dry.

When we examine Clemens Wolf’s obsessive and mysterious work, it’s obvious that the frontier between painting, sculpture and drawing places a great importance. The surface of the pieces with its powerfully vivid palette, reveals a world that is almost organic. While the artist sees the fabric’s contractions as a stylized representation of decomposition and decay, the resin he uses to hold the folds in place gives the works a distinctive glossy aspect and an intensity that is brought out by the delicacy of the coiled up parachute cords. The choice of such a lightweight and an aerial object as the parachute conjures up the fundamental notion of gravity.

Biography

1981 born in Vienna, lives and works in Vienna, AUT
2002 University of Art and Design Linz, Fine Arts, AUT
2005 Erasmus scholarship, ABK Maastricht, NL
2006 Artist in residence, Hildesheim, GER
2006 Diesel New Art Award
2007 Graduation University of Art and Design Linz, Fine Arts, AUT
2009 Strabag Art Award
2010 Georg Eisler Preis (nomminee)
2011 Anton Faistauerpreis
2013 SommerFrische Kunst, Artist in residence, Bad Gastein, AUT

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Albertina, Vienna
STRABAG Art Collection
Artothek des Bundes (Austria)
Artothek des Landes (Vienna)
Essl Collection (Private Museum)
Ringturm Collection (Wiener Städtische Insurance Group)
National Bank of Austria Collection

REPRESENTATIONS

GALERIE STEINEK
Vienna, AUT

GALERIE NIKOLAUS RUZICSKA
Salzburg, AUT

SANATORIUM GALLERY
Istanbul, TR

PUBLICATIONS

  • CLEMENS WOLF #3
    Verlag für moderne Kunst, 2021
  • CLEMENS WOLF #2
    Verlag für moderne Kunst, 2019
  • AUTODUCK
    Distanz Verlag, 2014
  • GOLD
    Hirmer 2012
  • CLEMENS WOLF #1
    Verlag für moderne Kunst, 2012

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

  • 2024
    FREEFALL
    Palais Festecits
    Vienna, Austria
  • 2023
    REMIX – MATERIAL ARCHEOLOGY
    Sanatorium Gallery
    Istanbul, Turkey
  • UNSEEN 
    Artworld 
    Vienna, Austria
  • 2022
    LETS PLAY – FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION
    Galerie Silvia Steinek
    Vienna, Austria
  • 2021
    NO ONE KNOWS
    Artworld
    Vienna, Austria
  • 2020
    CAN’T TOUCH THIS
    Backslashgallery
    Paris, FR
  • CAN TOUCH THIS
    Galerie Silvia Steinek
    Vienna, AUT
  • 2019
    OUT OF THE BLUE
    McNamara Projects
    Hongkong, CHN
  • 2017
    SURFACEBLUES
    Galerie Nikolaus Ruzicska
    Salzburg, AUT
  • SOMETIMES YOU LIVE TWICE
    Backslashgallery
    Paris, FR
  • 2016
    GROUNDED
    Galerie Steinek
    Vienna, AUT
  • WHAT GOES UP
    MUST COME DOWN
    Grenzkunsthalle
    Jennersdorf, AUT
  • 2015
    GREYSCALE
    Galerie Clemens Gunzer
    Zürich, CH
  • THE OTHER SIDE
    OF THE RAINBOW
    Backslashgallery
    Paris, FR
  • 2014
    HEAVY DUTY
    Galerie Clemens Gunzer
    Zürich, CH
  • 2013
    TIME TO BREAK OUT
    Galerie Hunchentoot
    Berlin, GER
  • UNTITLED, DIE THEATRALIK DER BEDEUTUNGS­LOSIGKEIT
    Galerie Steinek
    Vienna, AUT
  • INES
    Galerie Nikolaus Ruzicska
    Salzburg, AUT
  • 2011
    HOLES N’GRIDS
    Galerie Steinek
    Vienna, AUT
  • DEFORESTOFENCES
    Pratersauna Artspace
    Vienna, AUT
  • 2010
    OPENED SPACE
    Open Space
    Art Cologne, GER
  • CLEMENS WOLF
    Galerie Ruzicska
    Salzburg, AUT
  • 2009
    CLEMENS WOLF
    AKNÖ
    Vienna, AUT
  • THE GREAT MESS
    Strabag Artlounge
    Vienna, AUT
  • HINTER DER FREIHEIT / BEHIND FREEDOM
    Galerie Steinek
    Vienna, AUT
  • 2008
    A TOUCH OF RED
    Phantom Galleries
    Pasadena, USA
  • THE GREAT MESS IN LA
    The Continental Gallery
    Los Angeles, USA

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

  • 2022
    ALWAYS ON MY MIND
    Galerie Silvia Steinek,
    Vienna, AUT
  • RENDEZVOUS MIT DER SAMMLUNG
    Landesgalerie Lower Austria
    Krems, AUT
  • 2020
    I HOLD THE WHEEL TO LET IT GO
    Collectors Depot,
    Pörtschach, AUT
  • 2019
    CORRESPONDENCE
    Sanatorium Gallery
    Istanbul, TR
  • I WISH I WERE LIKE YOU;
    EASILY AMUSED
    Galerie Clemens Gunzer
    Kitzbühel, AUT
  • TBD WWS
    Collectors Depot
    Pörtschach, AUT
  • SOMMERFRISCHE KUNST
    Bad Gastein, AUT
  • GROUP SHOW
    Galerie Gölles
    Fürstenfeld, AUT
  • 2018
    HERE WE ARE NOW ENTERTAIN US
    Galerie Clemens Gunzer
    Kitzbühel, AUT
  • FUTURE IS COLLECTIVE
    Backslashgallery
    Paris, FR
  • BREAKFAST AT TIFFANYS
    Collectors Depot
    Pörtschach, AUT
  • GARTEN DER KÜNSTLER
    Minoritenkloster
    Tulln, AUT
  • HOME BY THE SEA
    Collectors Depot
    Pörtschach, AUT
  • ACCOURAGE
    Galerie Clemens Gunzer
    Kitzbühel, AUT
  • LOUNGE ACT
    Galerie Clemens Gunzer
    Kitzbühel, AUT
  • 2017
    GALERIE M
    Galerie Z
    Hard, AUT
  • WEIHNNACHTEN
    Galerie Propaganda
    Warsaw, PL
  • BLACK IS THE NEW BLACK
    Collectors Depot
    Pörtschach, AUT
  • OH! YOU PRETTY THINGS
    Galerie Clemens Gunzer
    Kitzbühel, AUT
  • 2016
    SESSION 3 PLANÉITÉ
    Backslashgallery
    Paris, FR
  • HÖHENRAUSCH
    Eigen+Art Lab
    Berlin, GER
  • GASTRÄUME
    Manifesta
    Zürich, CH
  • INTERJEKTION
    Galerie Clemens Gunzer
    Zürich, CH
  • 2015
    FIGUR I STRUKTUR
    Strabag Art Collection
    RLB Kunstbrücke
    Innsbruck, AUT
  • 3. DANUBE BIENNALE
    Meulensteen Art Museum
    Bratislava, SK
  • SKULPTURENPARK
    Golfclub
    Dellach, AUT
  • SUMMER SHOW
    Galerie Clemens Gunzer
    Kitzbühel, AUT
  • LOOK AT ME NOW
    Inoperable Gallery
    Vienna, AUT
  • VERORTUNG
    Galerie Steinek
    Vienna, AUT
  • 2014
    27/1
    Backslashgallery
    Paris, FR
  • WHEN BLACK MEETS WHITE
    Inoperable Gallery
    Vienna, AUT
  • REDUX
    Inoperable Gallery
    Vienna, AUT
  • HIC ET NUNC
    Stift Klosterneuburg, AUT
  • COLLECTED #4
    Bank Austria Kunstforum
    Vienna, AUT
  • 2013
    HEAVY METAL
    Galerie Clemens Gunzer
    Kitzbühel, AUT
  • LIKE IT
    Essl Museum
    Klosterneuburg, AUT
  • ELEVEN
    Hohe Bleichen
    Hamburg, GER
  • SOMMERFRISCHE KUNST
    Bad Gastein, AUT
  • FIRST
    Loft 8
    Vienna, AUT
  • 2012
    DER GEMALTE RAUM
    Essl Museum
    Klosterneuburg, AUT
  • SESSHAFT
    Galerie Steinek
    Vienna, AUT
  • GOLD
    Unteres Belvedere
    Vienna, AUT
  • DEMONS AND PEARLS
    Dok
    St. Pölten, AUT
  • 2010
    GEORG EILSER PREIS
    Bank Austria Kunstforum
    Vienna, AUT
  • RINGTURM
    Leopold Museum
    Vienna, AUT
  • 4TH BEIJING BIENNALE
    Namoc National Art Museum of China
    Bejing, CN
  • URBAN LOOK
    Die Ausstellungsstrasse
    Vienna Biennale
    Vienna, AUT
  • HAPPY IN VIENNA
    Galerie Steinek
    Vienna, AUT
  • IN BETWEEN
    Kadir Has University
    Istanbul, TUR
  • KUNSTTOUR 2010
    Galerie Groen Licht
    Maastricht, NL
  • FOCUS DAILY
    Continental Galler
    Los Angeles, USA
  • IN BETWEEN
    Old Patriotissa Market Hall
    Nikosia, CYP
  • IN BETWEEN
    Zentrum für Gegenwartskunst
    Podgarica, MNE
  • 2011
    IN BETWEEN
    CAC
    Vilnius, LT
  • IN BETWEEN
    Stadtgalerie
    St. Pölten, AUT
  • KUNSTTOUR
    Maastricht, NL
  • FAISTAUERPREIS
    Trakelhaus
    Salzburg, AUT
  • NACHBARN, ABGRENZUNG
    UND GEMEINSAMKEIT
    Eisfabrik
    Hannover, GER
  • ART IN THE CITY
    Park d’Egmont
    BGArt Brussels
    Vienna, BG
  • ES LEBE DIE MALEREI
    Essl Museum
    Klosterneuburg, AUT
  • OPERIA SERIA
    Galerie Nikolaus Ruzicska
    Salzbug, AUT
  • MÄRCHEN MYTHOS MAROTTE
    Galerie Steinek
    Vienna, AUT
  • TERMINATOR 2
    Projekt_LOVE
    Vienna, AUT
  • 2009
    1ST DANUBE BIENNALE
    Meulensteen Art Museum
    Bratislava, SK
  • IN BETWEEN
    Galerija Umjetnina
    Split, CRO
  • SCHWARZ AUF WEISS
    IN SHADES OF GREY
    Brick 5
    Vienna, AUT
  • STRABAG INTERNATIONAL ARTAWARD
    Strabag Artlounge
    Vienna, AUT
  • KUNSTTOUR
    Galerie Groen Licht
    Maastricht, NL
  • KOSCHATZKY AWARD NOMINEES
    Mumok Hofstallungen
    Vienna, AUT
  • 2008
    IN BETWEEN
    Genia Schreiber University Art Gallery
    Tel Aviv, ISR
  • AUSTRIA conTEMPORARY
    Essl Museum
    Klosterneuburg, AUT
  • KUNSTTOUR
    Galerie Groen Licht
    Maastricht, NL
  • ICH HABE NICHT GENUG IHR MATTEN AUGEN
    Universal Cube
    Leipzig, GER
  • FROM THE STREET ON UP!
    VillaNuts
    The Hague, NL
  • ZEICHEN UND WUNDER
    California Market Center
    Los Angeles, USA
  • 2007
    LACYSTREET ARTS
    Los Angeles, USA
  • BEST OFF 07
    Nordico
    Linz, AUT
  • KUNSTTOUR
    Galerie Groen Licht
    Maastricht, NL
  • ARTMART
    Viennart Künstlerhaus
    Vienna, AUT
  • 2006
    STEELCITYKIDS
    Junglerushstudios
    Los Angeles, USA
  • DIESEL NEW ART AWARD
    Betonsalon Museumsquartier
    Vienna, AUT
  • ORTSWECHSEL
    Kunstverein Hildesheim
    Hildesheim, GER
  • STREETART, DIE LESBARE STADT
    Freiraum Museumsquartier
    Vienna, AUT (Curator)