Lorenz Friedrich

The Austrian artist Lorenz Friedrich was born in St. Veit an der Glan, Austria in 1988. The artist began to work in wood from early on (in his father’s workshop for restoration). Friedrich began his higher education by training to be a sculptor at the Technical College in Hallstatt. In 2015 he completed his studies at the art academy in Vienna under supervision of the artist Heimo Zobernig. This combination of technical skill, a deep knowledge of materials as well as expansive an extensive understanding of art theory, defines the artist’s practice to this day.

Since his formal education, the artist has set up a studio in Vienna to devote himself to his art full-time. He has exhibited in numerous solo- and group-exhibitions and received multiple awards and grants.

Over many years the artist has developed a distinct aesthetic that is minimal not only in choice of colour but also in size. And yet, the effect of fascination and intrigue this enables within the viewer is considerably grand. Working in wood, the artist sculpts miniature-sized human figures that in their collectivity inhabit a microcosm in their respective location. The works are delightfully playful in that the figures push the boundaries of frames, walk along small tracks on the walls or even find themselves trapped within a transparent hip flask.

Beyond the sculptural, the artist takes interest in writing and stop-motion picture. The artist’s so-called micrograms show microscopically small writing that can be clearly identified as text but is almost illegible. Taking his wooden sculptures as protagonists, Friedrich has delved into stop-motion animation and participated in screenings internationally.

Artist's CV