Gottfried Helnwein (Austrian/Irish, b.1948)

Art

Who is artist Gottfried Helnwein?

Gottfried Helnwein is a multidisciplinary artist whose paintings, sculptures, and installation pieces explore controversial or taboo topics. He is perhaps best known for Ninth November Night (1988) and Disasters of War 3. Because of his wide range of mediums and subject matter, he’s been associated with several different artistic movements including Hyperrealism, installation art, and performance art. His work is often provocative and controversial, making his shows a must-see for their ability to court controversy without being mired down by it. He has produced several costume designs for theater and ballet productions, most notably Macbeth and for Wagner’s Ring Cycle.

Though he has always been considered a controversial figure in the art scene, Helnwein is highly regarded by his peers and critics. He’s received major awards in multiple disciplines, including film, painting, and photography. He was awarded the master class prize from the University of Visual Art in Vienna as a student. In 1984, his film Helnwein (a documentary about the artist himself) won the Adolf Grimme Prize for best television documentary. His pieces have been shown at some of the most prestigious institutions in the world including the San Francisco Fine Arts Museum, the Ludwig Museum Schloss Oberhausen, and the Museum of Modern Art Linz.

What kind of art does Gottfried Helnwein make?

Gottfried Helnwein is a multidisciplinary artist who has produced paintings, films, and photographs, as well as more experimental work like installation art and performance pieces. His art often centers on the anxiety-inducing aspects of life and history, as well as historical moments like the holocaust. For years he did a series of self-portraits and has performed in several one-man shows. Helnwein has also contributed to larger-scale productions in film and on stage, most frequently as a set or costume designer. Helnwein’s paintings are often his most controversial art, most notably his work which portrayed an infamous incest case in Austria. Gottfried Helnwein isn’t afraid of the darker side of human nature.

How did photographer and painter Gottfried Helnwein get started?

Gottfried Helnwein was born in Vienna, Austria in 1948 -- shortly after World War II. As a child, he grew up in a strict Catholic household. In 1965 he enrolled at the Higher Federal Institution for Graphic Education and Experimentation in Vienna. He quickly made a mark with intense performance pieces where the young artist cut his face and hands with razor blades. He continued his studies at the University of Visual Art in Vienna where he won the master class prize as well as the Kardinal-Konig Prize. Helnwein met Andy Warhol in 1983, Warhol agreed to a series of portraits with the artist. He moved to Cologne in 1985 upon purchase of a medieval castle -- then spent the rest of the nineties moving between Cologne, Dublin, and New York City.

How much is Gottfried Helnwein art worth?

Gottfried Helnwein art can be worth anywhere between $5,000 and $160,000 depending on the piece and its significance. The most ever paid for a Gottfried Helnwein piece of art at auction is $155,295 for the painting Kindskopf (Head of a Child) III (2001) which sold on March 8th, 2018. This was 12% higher than the high estimate. The most ever paid for a Gottfried Helnwein piece at a Heritage Auction is $121,875.00 for the piece Boulevard of Broken Dreams (2005) which sold on November 30th, 2017.

Where to buy Gottfried Helnwein art for sale?

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How to value Gottfried Helnwein art?

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