Urs Fischer

b. 1973

Based in New York, Urs Fischer (b. 1973, Zürich, Switzerland) is known for his ‘anti-art and antiauthoritarian’ approach to art making. His use of unconventional materials such as dirt, bread, wax and snails challenge conventional art methods within a diverse practice of painting, sculpture installation and photography.

Notable works such as his Problem Paintings (2010), Bread House (2004), Things (2018) and his evanescent wax sculptures exemplify playful satire and distinct social commentary. Urs began his career studying photography at Schule für Gestaltung, Zürich, went on to De Ateliers, Amsterdam (1991) and was an artist in resident at Delfina Studios, London (2000).

Urs’ recent shows include Wave, Place Vendom Gagosian, Paris (2023); Ice Cream Truck Democracy, Gagosian, Beverly Hills (2023); Jason Haam: Five Years, Part Two, Mutual Art, Seoul (2023); Good Object/Bad Object, Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill, NC (2023); The Lovers #2, Museo Jumex, Mexico City (2022-2023); The Postmodern Child, Museum of Contemporary Art, Busan (2022-2023); Denominator, Gagosian Beverly Hills (2022); CHAOS #1-#500, Gagosian at Marciano Art Foundation, Los Angeles (2022); Pink Motor, Jason Haam Gallery, Seoul (2022); Urs Fischer, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv-Yafo (2022); Your Deaths, Your Births, Sadie Coles HQ, London, Bury Street (2022).

Urs has received several awards such as Bundesamt für Kultur, Eidgenössisches Stipendium für freie Kunst, Zürich (1995); Kiefer-Hablitzel Stipendium (1997); Providentia-Preis, Young Art. Bundesamt für Kultur, Eidgenössisches Stipendium für freie Kunst, Zürich (1999). He was a nominee for The Vincent Van Gogh Biennial Award for Contemporary Art in Europe, Amsterdam (2006). He belongs to numerous public collections including Fondazione Morra, Naples; Kunstmuseum Basel, Basel; Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York City; Burger, Collection, Berlin.

@chaosursfischer

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