Wolfgang Stiller, Matchstickmen, 2024

Wolfgang Stiller has been an artist for nearly four decades, having experienced significant events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall and the rise of popular culture in New York. Although he initially studied Communication Design in Germany, he was more interested in painting and installation work, and eventually set up his own studio in an old factory loft. Through hard work and dedication, he attracted the attention of a gallery owner and a renowned painter, which led to his acceptance into the prestigious Kunstakademie Düsseldorf where he honed his skills and developed his unique style.

Throughout his career, Stiller has traveled extensively, which has played a crucial role in shaping his art by exposing him to diverse cultures and experiences. He uses his artwork to comment on societal issues, balancing seriousness with playfulness. One of his most recognizable series, the "Matchstickmen," features sculptures of matchsticks with burnt heads. While some view these pieces as a representation of burnout syndrome, Stiller prefers to leave their meaning open-ended, allowing viewers to interpret them as they see fit.

For Stiller, the human head is a fascinating subject for exploration, as it is the center of human psyche and personality. He believes in the power of craftsmanship and uses physical work and material selection to imbue his pieces with meaning. After many years of work, he created the final form of the Matchstickmen series, which he has since expanded to include bronze sculptures with unique patinas.

Stiller received his education at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf Fine Art Academy and has won multiple awards. He has exhibited his artwork in over 140 solo and group shows and his pieces are featured in international museum collections such as the Wuhan Museum of Fine Art in China, Pfalzgalerie Kaiserslautern and Museum Bochum in Germany, and the public collection of Land Hessen in Germany.

EDUCATION

1981–1984
Studium Kommunikationsdesign | GHS Wuppertal | Germany

1984–1989
Studium Freie Kunst – Malerei und Skulptur | Kunstakademie Düsseldorf | Germany

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2025
Muzeum Rzemiosła w Krośnie | Poland
Solo Booth at Contect Art Fair with Chic Evolution in Art Gallery

2023
Benjamin Eck Projects | Munich, Germany (Two-person show with Nicolai Makarov)

2021
Miart Gallery | London, UK

2020
Benjamin Eck Projects | Munich, Germany (Two-person show with Ray Caesar)

2017
Mark Hachem Gallery | Beirut, Lebanon

2016
Tändstickmuseum | Jönköping, Sweden
Mark Hachem Gallery | Paris, France

2015
Galerie Schmalfuss | Berlin, Germany

2014
Galerie Albert Benamou – Véronique Maxé | Paris, France
Yeni Cami, Former Archaeological Museum | Thessaloniki, Greece (Dimitria Festival)

2013
Python Gallery | Erlenbach/Zürich, Switzerland
Art Issue Projects | Taipei, Taiwan
Voss Kunstlag – Banksmidja | Voss, Norway
Gallery Basement | Voss, Norway

2012
MUBE Skulpturenmuseum | São Paulo, Brazil
Delloro Contemporary Art Gallery | Berlin, Germany
Galeria Simon Nolte | Porto Colom, Mallorca, Spain
Pingpong Artspace | Taipei, Taiwan

2011
Kalos & Klio Showroom in collaboration with Lola Nikolaou Gallery | Thessaloniki, Greece

2010
Kunstverein Gera | Germany
Galerie Ling | Berlin, Germany

2009
Galerie Epikur | Wuppertal, Germany
Kunstverein Gera | Germany
Galerie Schmalfuss | Marburg, Germany

2008
Emerson Gallery | Berlin, Germany

2006
Galleria Cal D’Oro | Rome, Italy

2005
Yamamoto Gendai Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
Emerson Gallery | Berlin, Germany

2003
C3 Gallery | New York, USA

2001
Westbeth Gallery | Nagoya, Japan
“Humanus” | Paulina Kolczynska Fine Art | New York, USA
Vernon Holdings Fine Art | Prague, Czech Republic

2000
Roentgen Kunstraum, Ikeuchi Gallery | Tokyo, Japan

1999
Galleria Scognamiglio & Teano | Naples, Italy
Galerie Epikur | Wuppertal, Germany

1998
Galerie Clairefontaine | Luxembourg
ART Frankfurt, Förderkoje, Galerie Markus Nohn | Trier, Germany
Galerie Markus Nohn | Trier, Germany

1997
Galerie Markus Nohn | Trier, Germany
Galerie Clairefontaine | Luxembourg
Roentgen Kunstraum, Ikeuchi Gallery | Tokyo, Japan

1996–1997
Galerie Cato Jans | Hamburg, Germany

1996
Galerie Markus Nohn | Trier, Germany
Museum Bochum | Germany

1995
Carsten Neumärker Galerie | Cologne, Germany

1993
Roentgen Kunstinstitut, Ikeuchi Gallery | Tokyo, Japan

1992
Städtische Galerie Schloss Oberhausen | Germany

1991
Studio Galerie Hamburg | Germany
Kunstverein Ruhr | Essen, Germany
Petruskirche | Berlin, Germany
Wartbergkirche | Heilbronn, Germany

1990
Kunst und Museumsverein Wuppertal | Germany

1989–1990
Martin Gropius Bau, Werkbund Archiv | Berlin, Germany

1988
Galerie Kosmos | Essen, Germany

1986
Atelier und Galerie Kollektiv | Wuppertal, Germany

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2026
Chic Evolution in Art
Minima Gallery | Mykonos, Greece

2022
Chic Evolution in Art | Fort Lauderdale, USA
Minima Gallery | Mykonos, Greece

2020
Mark Hachem Galerie | Paris, France

2019
Madison Gallery | San Diego / Solana Beach, USA

2018
Changwon Sculpture Biennale | Korea

2017
“Verleihung der Narrenkappe” | MACT/CACT Contemporary Art Museum Ticino | Bellinzona, Switzerland
Lola Nikolaou Gallery | Thessaloniki, Greece

2014
Two-person show with Florian Fausch | Galerie von Fraunberg | Düsseldorf, Germany
Lola Nikolaou Gallery | Thessaloniki, Greece

2012
2nd International Art Festival | Kathmandu, Nepal

2009
Galerie Horschick | Dresden, Germany
Kolbe Museum – Souterrain Sammlung Hoffmann | Germany

2006
“New Chinese Occidentalism” | THE HOUSE | Beijing, China
Two-person show with Pan Xing Lei | Chinese Art Base, 798 International Art Festival | Beijing, China

2005
“Made in America” | The Pickled Arts Centre | Beijing, China

2004
“Phantastik” | Landesmuseum Linz | Austria
“Maze II” | The Artists Network | New York, USA

2002
Herforder Kunstverein | Germany
Georg Kolbe Museum | Berlin, Germany
Städtisches Museum Zwickau | Germany
Watermill Auction | Watermill, USA

2001
Museum Ratingen | Germany
Osaka Triennale | Osaka Museum | Japan
Watermill Auction | Watermill, USA

2000
EXPO 2000 | DASA Museum | Dortmund, Germany
“Tuchfühlung II” | Velbert-Langenberg, Germany

1999
K.E. Osthaus Museum | Hagen, Germany
Galerie Jan Wagner | Berlin, Germany

1998
Künstlerhaus Bethanien | Berlin, Germany

1997
Galerie Markus Nohn | Trier, Germany
“Tuchfühlung” | Velbert-Langenberg, Germany
Roentgen Kunstraum, Ikeuchi Gallery | Tokyo, Japan

1996–1997
“Discordia” | Kunstverein / Kunsthaus Hamburg | Germany

1995
Ursula Blickle Stiftung Kunstpreis Installation | Kraichtal, Germany

1994
“Platons Höhle” | K.E. Osthaus Museum | Hagen, Germany
“Bekömmlich” | Kunsthaus Hamburg | Germany

1992
“Tiefgang” | Schlossbunker | Mannheim, Germany

1990
“Imitationen” | K.E. Osthaus Museum | Hagen, Germany
Studio Galerie | Hamburg, Germany

1987
Von der Heydt Museum | Wuppertal, Germany
Kunstpreis Junger Westen | Kunsthalle Recklinghausen | Germany
Manus Presse Stuttgart | Germany

1986
“ART WIRE” | Messe Düsseldorf | Germany
“Bad” Wanderausstellung | Bad Nauheim / Wiesbaden, Germany
Städtische Galerie Gladbeck | Germany

1985
Von der Heydt Museum | Wuppertal, Germany

1984
Von der Heydt Museum | Wuppertal, Germany

RESIDENCES

1996
Artist in Residence | Istanbul (Berliner Senat) | Turkey

2000
ISP Studio Program | New York, USA

AWARDS & GRANTS

1986
ART Stiftung Plaas | Germany

1991
Kunst und Kirche Heilbronn | Germany
Arbeitsstipendium | Senat Berlin | Germany
Kunstpreis Sickingen | Germany

1993
Arbeitsstipendium | Tokyo, Japan

2009
Kunstfonds Arbeitsstipendium | Germany

PUBLIC ART

WORKS IN MUSEUMS & PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

PROFESSIONAL

1996
Lives and works in Istanbul, Turkey (8 months)

2000–2007
Lives and works in New York, USA

2007–2008
Lives and works in Beijing, China

2007
Visiting Professor, NYU (New York University) | Shanghai, China

2009–Present
Lives and works in Berlin, Germany

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Wolfgang Stiller German , b. 1961

WOOD YOUR RATHER BE HAPPY?

A Man Behind the Matchstickmen (And More).

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