Please note: Artists not classified as American in our database may have limited biographical data
compared to the extensive information about American artists.
A Swiss painter and sculptor who received the Frank
J. Malina Leonardo Award in 1987. Max Bill studied at the Zurich School of
Arts and Crafts and, later, at the Bauhaus. His art is a form of
Constructivism that relies on mathematical formulae to build up
components from which the work is constructed. He joined the
association of modern Swiss artists, Allianz, and in 1941 founded the
Allianz Press. In addition to publishing and teaching, Bill focused on
product design.
The expression of Bauhaus
Functionalism is central to his art. In 1947, he founded the Institute
for Progressive Culture and mounted a series of exhibitions that
culminated in 1951 in an important retrospective exhibition of his work
by the Sao Paulo Museum. That same year, Bill developed a "university"
for design techniques from his appointed position as Rector of a
Hochschule fur Gestaltung (Institute for Design) at Ulm.
His influence has been recognized
worldwide---in Brazil he was awarded the Grand Prix for sculpture at
the Sao Paulo Biennale of 1951, and, in Italy, the Grand Prix for Swiss
Pavilion at the Milan Triennale in 1951. He has held more than 200
one-man exhibitions of his work. Max Bill, architect, sculptor, painter,
graphic artist and
one of the principal representatives of Concrete Art,
was born
on December 22, 1908 in Winterthur, Switzerland, his
family
from Moosseedorf in the Canton of Bern. Studied at the
Arts
and Crafts Academy in Zurich (1924-27), followed by an
apprenticeship
as silversmith (1927-29) and studies at the Bauhaus,
the Dessau
school of arts and crafts. Moved to Zurich - 1929. He
was active
as architect, painter, graphic artist and sculptor
from 1932
onwards, in public relations from 1936 on, and as
product designer
as of 1944. Also taught and gave presentations.
Co-founder and
director of the Ulm school of arts and crafts (1931-56). He
worked on architecture and product form. From 1961-1964, he
was the head architect of the Building and Design Sectors for
the Swiss National Exhibit in Lausanne '64. He became professor
at the State School for Fine Arts in Hamburg in 1967 and received
awards, honors and an honorary degree. In 1968, received the
Zurich Art Award and has been exhibiting in galleries and exhibition
halls since 1928. His Constructivist sculptures for public squares
as well as his paintings have become popular in America, Europe
and Asia. He began writing monographs, catalogues and his own
writings in the 50's. His printwork played an important role
as well (created 14 book folio works).
Max Bill died at the age of 86 years on December 9, 1994 during
a visit to Berlin. His estate is in the hands of his Community
of Heirs. |