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Karl Fritsch

Jeweller
Published: 12.03.2026

Bio

Karl Fritsch, 1963, born in Sonthofen, Germany. From 1987-94 studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich under Prof. Hermann Jünger and Prof. Otto Künzli, and has works at the following collections among others: Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (NL), Danner-rotunde, Pinakothek der Moderne, München (D), The Helen Drutt Collection, Philadelphia (USA), Espace Solidor, Haut-de-Cagnes (F), Schmuck Museum Pforzheim (D), Anger Museum Erfurt (D), The Hiko Mizuno Collection, Tokio (J),Auckland Museum, Auckland (NZ), Te Papa National Museum , Wellington (NZ), Stedelijk Museum, ´s Hertogenbosch (NL). Since 2010 lives and works in New Zealand.
 

Statement

I´m fascinated by jewellery and by the fact that every person owns and wears ornaments of one kind or another. This universality impresses me and stimulates me to make jewellery which I would like to see people wearing. Those people could be my aunts or anyone else.
 

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2026:
Lectures  24 Sep 2026 - 24 Sep 2026  DIVA talk: in conversation with Karl Fritsch.
Workshop  21 Sep 2026 - 25 Sep 2026  Masterclass with Karl Fritsch.
Exhibition  26 Apr 2026 - 17 May 2026  Metal Vessel 2.0.
Exhibition  02 Apr 2026 - 08 Nov 2026  Rings that Rock: diamond rings.
Exhibition  14 Mar 2026 - 12 Apr 2026  House of Pearl.
2025:
Exhibition  21 Dec 2025 - 03 Mar 2026  House of Pearl.
2024:
Exhibition  05 Jul 2024 - 29 Sep 2024  All Cleared Out. The Jewellery Museum extends an Invitation.
Award giving  14 May 2024 - 14 May 2024  LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize 2024 Winners.
Exhibition  25 Feb 2024 - 26 May 2024  Gabi Dziuba and Friends.
2023:
Exhibition  02 Dec 2023 - 10 Dec 2023  Alliance.
2022:
Exhibition  02 Dec 2022 - 21 Jan 2023  30 years Galerie Biró. Jubilee Exhibition.
Exhibition  08 Oct 2022 - 09 Oct 2022  SMCK On Reel Jewelry Video Festival at Romanian Jewelry Week.
Fair  06 Jul 2022 - 10 Jul 2022  Schmuck 2022.
Meeting  06 Mar 2022 - 06 Mar 2022  Metamorphoses. Live Online Show.
Exhibition  25 Feb 2022 - 02 Apr 2022  Metamorphoses.
Exhibition  22 Jan 2022 - 12 Mar 2022  Rings ! at Houston.
2021:
Exhibition  30 Sep 2021 - 03 Oct 2021  Legnica SILVER at Romanian Jewellery Week 2.0.
Exhibition  28 Aug 2021 - 12 Sep 2021  Budapest Jewelry Week 2021.
Exhibition  03 Jul 2021 - 17 Jul 2021  Fritschgang II. More Rings, Lamps and Plates by Karl Fritsch.
Exhibition  05 Jun 2021 - 17 Jul 2021  Rings !.
Exhibition  26 Mar 2021 - 17 Apr 2021  CHAINreaction, Handshakes at the Refinery.
Exhibition  13 Mar 2021 - 01 Aug 2021  Danish Jewellery Box, Contemporary Jewellery Design.
Fair  10 Mar 2021 - 14 Mar 2021  CANCELED / Schmuck 2021.
2020:
Exhibition  12 Sep 2020 - 20 Dec 2020  Ruby Gold by Karl Fritsch.
Workshop  04 Sep 2020 - 06 Sep 2020  Making Rings by Karl Fritsch.
Exhibition  12 Mar 2020 - 18 Apr 2020  Stones: The final Cut.
2019:
Exhibition  23 Nov 2019 - 21 Dec 2019  Final Parade.
Lectures  20 Nov 2019 - 20 Nov 2019  Jewelry on the Edge. A Lecture by Karl Fritsch.
Exhibition  19 Nov 2019 - 06 Dec 2019  Rings Without End by Karl Fritsch.
Exhibition  13 Oct 2019 - 26 Oct 2019  Ring by Karl Fritsch in Munich.
Exhibition  06 Sep 2019 - 05 Nov 2019  MasterMakers.
Lectures  11 Jul 2019 - 11 Jul 2019  Lecture by Karl Fritsch in Christchurch.
Exhibition  28 Jun 2019 - 28 Aug 2019  FOTOCOPY Season 03.
Exhibition  14 May 2019 - 08 Jun 2019  Karl and Lisa in Melbourne.
2018:
Exhibition  24 Nov 2018 - 22 Dec 2018  INÉDIT 3, Bagues à part by Karl Fritsch and Yutaka Minegishi.
Exhibition  05 Aug 2018 - 28 Oct 2018  Rough & Raw: A selection from the Coda Museum.
Exhibition  14 Jul 2018 - 12 Aug 2018  It Is What It Looks Like by Karl Fritsch.
Meeting  26 Apr 2018 - 29 Apr 2018  Melting Point 2018.
Exhibition  09 Mar 2018 - 11 Mar 2018  Returning to the jewel is a return from exile by Galerie Biro.
Fair  07 Mar 2018 - 13 Mar 2018  Schmuck 2018.
Exhibition  07 Mar 2018 - 13 Mar 2018  Galerie Ra at Frame 2018.
Exhibition  07 Mar 2018 - 13 Mar 2018  IWA: New Zealand makers at Frame 2018.
2017:
Exhibition  13 Dec 2017 - 03 Jun 2018  Jewellery. Made By, Worn By.
Exhibition  06 Dec 2017 - 10 Dec 2017  Jewelers' Werk Galerie at FORM Miami 2017.
Exhibition  08 Sep 2017 - 14 Oct 2017  Aber nicht jeden Tag by Karl Fritsch.
Exhibition  12 Jul 2017 - 28 Jul 2017  I Hate Fritsch by Karl Fritsch.
Exhibition  21 May 2017 - 27 May 2017  Containment. The National in Auckland.
Exhibition  19 May 2017 - 05 Nov 2017  Medusa Bijoux et tabous.
Exhibition  08 Mar 2017 - 14 Mar 2017  Galerie Spektrum. The Munich Times & Frame Exhibition at IHM.
2016:
Exhibition  04 Nov 2016 - 02 Dec 2016  Reproduced Paradise.
Exhibition  15 Oct 2016 - 10 Dec 2016  Ra Now.
Exhibition  01 Oct 2016 - 30 Oct 2016  Rings by Karl Fritsch.
Exhibition  23 Aug 2016 - 24 Sep 2016  Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery Exhibition 2016.
Exhibition  07 Jun 2016 - 09 Jul 2016  Der Tiefenglanz / Felsengarten by Karl Fritsch & Gavin Hipkins.
Exhibition  07 Jun 2016 - 09 Jul 2016  Hi Cranky! by Karl Fritsch.
Exhibition  25 Feb 2016 - 27 Feb 2016  SPECIALS, a HandShake Alumni exhibition.
2015:
Exhibition  12 Nov 2015 - 03 Jan 2016  From here and there.
Exhibition  26 Oct 2015 - 18 Dec 2015  A Restrospective by Karl Fritsch.
Exhibition  17 Oct 2015 - 05 Dec 2015  No Research by Karl Fritsch and Formal Research by Noon Passama.
Exhibition  07 Oct 2015 - 07 Nov 2015  To Recover.
Exhibition  06 Oct 2015 - 31 Oct 2015  20/20: Gallery Funaki 20th Anniversary.
Exhibition  05 Jul 2015 - 26 Jul 2015  Love and Technique by Lisa Walker and Karl Fritsch.
Exhibition  06 Jun 2015 - 18 Jul 2015  Humanity in the Age of Credit by Sungho Cho.
Exhibition  06 Jun 2015 - 18 Jul 2015  Flowers at Night and Day by Nhat-Vu Dang.
Exhibition  04 May 2015 - 27 May 2015  Pearl.
Exhibition  18 Apr 2015 - 30 May 2015  Morphogenesis by Mi-Ah Rödiger.
Exhibition  18 Apr 2015 - 30 May 2015  You and Me by Ted Noten.
Fair  11 Mar 2015 - 17 Mar 2015  Schmuck 2015.
Exhibition  28 Feb 2015 - 11 Apr 2015  Ruimte / Space by Beppe Kessler.
2014:
Exhibition  11 Sep 2014 - 14 Aug 2014  Platina: 15 Years Of Jewellery Art.
Exhibition  08 Aug 2014 - 30 Aug 2014  Paintings and Rings.
Exhibition  08 Jul 2014 - 09 Aug 2014  Yodel by Karl Fritsch.
Exhibition  20 Jun 2014 - 05 Oct 2014  glAmour.
Exhibition  17 May 2014 - 06 Jun 2014  Hi Little Würstchen by Karl Fritsch.
Exhibition  13 Mar 2014 - 16 Mar 2014  Suspend.ed in Green.
Fair  12 Mar 2014 - 18 Mar 2014  Schmuck 2014.
Exhibition  11 Mar 2014 - 12 Apr 2014  I Quite Like That by Karl Fritsch.
2013:
Exhibition  29 Nov 2013 - 02 Mar 2014  Papallona / Mariposa / Butterfly.
Exhibition  08 Nov 2013 - 17 Nov 2013  Karl Fritsch Jewelry - ach so -.
Exhibition  20 Oct 2013 - 10 Nov 2013  Keeping Up with the Times.
Exhibition  03 Oct 2013 - 26 Oct 2013  Karl Fritsch: Hang On.
Exhibition  28 Sep 2013 - 03 Nov 2013  GeMANOgy: Gem as Storyteller.
Exhibition  15 Jun 2013 - 20 Jul 2013  HANDSHAKE project.
Exhibition  15 Jun 2013 - 06 Oct 2013  Salute to Pinton.
Exhibition  30 Apr 2013 - 06 Jun 2013  SCHMUCK 2013 at Legnica Jewellery Festival SILVER.
Exhibition  30 Apr 2013 - 30 Jun 2013  Hardened Tears.
Exhibition  08 Mar 2013 - 27 Apr 2013  Karl Fritsch: What I do for you.
Fair  06 Mar 2013 - 12 Mar 2013  Schmuck 2013.
Exhibition  15 Feb 2013 - 23 Jun 2013  Karl Fritsch Jewellery.
2012:
Exhibition  31 Oct 2012 - 24 Nov 2012  Rohan Wealleans and Karl Fritsch: Knuckle Fresser.
Exhibition  16 Sep 2012 - 11 Nov 2012  Karl Fritsch: Disco.
Exhibition  15 Sep 2012 - 07 Oct 2012  Karl Fritsch: Lucy.
Exhibition  03 Sep 2012 - 09 Sep 2012  Karl Fritsch: Die Allgäuer Ringmaschine.
Exhibition  21 Jun 2012 - 21 Jul 2012  Solstice.
Exhibition  11 May 2012 - 14 May 2012  Galerie Ra at Collect 2012.
Fair  14 Mar 2012 - 20 Mar 2012  Schmuck 2012.
Exhibition  11 Feb 2012 - 13 May 2012  Cluster.
Meeting  10 Feb 2012 - 13 Feb 2012  JEMposium.
Exhibition  05 Feb 2012 - 08 Apr 2012  Mirrors and Candles.
Exhibition  11 Jan 2012 - 12 Feb 2012  Karl Fritsch & Lisa Walker: Interesting Pieces of Jewellery.
Workshop  09 Jan 2012 - 19 Jan 2012  Karl Fritsch and Lisa Walker: Masterclass.
2011:
Exhibition  03 Dec 2011 - 28 Jan 2012  Ra Present, 35 years Ra Gallery.
Exhibition  25 Nov 2011 - 25 Dec 2011  Karl Fritsch: Karlikarli.
Exhibition  04 Nov 2011 - 23 Nov 2011  Karl Fritsch: Rings Without End.
Exhibition  03 Nov 2011 - 22 Dec 2011  KITSCH between ART AND ORNAMENT. 2000-2011.
Exhibition  15 Oct 2011 - 13 Nov 2011  Platina for Pleasure.
Exhibition  15 Oct 2011 - 26 Nov 2011  Karl Fritsch: Rings and Dishes.
Exhibition  09 Sep 2011 - 09 Oct 2011  THE RING - jewel forever.
Exhibition  09 Aug 2011 - 19 Feb 2012  HandSHAKE – Prentice and prodigy.
Exhibition  30 May 2011 - 10 Jun 2011  Karl Fritsch: ringe zu verkaufen.
Exhibition  14 May 2011 - 04 Jun 2011  Karl Fritsch: Surf the ring.
Exhibition  08 May 2011 - 08 Jan 2012  The Spirit of Stone.
Exhibition  19 Apr 2011 - 22 May 2011  Homage to Guariento Gold in Contemporary Jewellery.
Exhibition  09 Apr 2011 - 15 May 2011  POSITIONS OF CONTEMPORARY JEWELRY ART.
Exhibition  11 Mar 2011 - 21 Apr 2011  Galerie der Preisträger.
2010:
Exhibition  08 Dec 2010 - 08 Jan 2011  Hand Made: Christmas '10.
Exhibition  03 Dec 2010 - 24 Jan 2011  Karl Fritsch: Powerful Rings.
Exhibition  26 Nov 2010 - 16 Jan 2011  Karl Fritsch: Scenes from the Munich Diamond Disaster.
Exhibition  12 Nov 2010 - 09 Dec 2010  Karl Fritsch: Some Rings are Fuckwits.
Exhibition  07 Nov 2010 - 20 Feb 2011  Returning to the jewel is a return from exile.
Exhibition  25 Jun 2010 - 11 Jul 2010  Karl Fritsch: Cowboy Rings from Kiwiland.
Exhibition  08 Jun 2010 - 03 Jul 2010  Karl Fritsch: Freeling.
Exhibition  04 Jun 2010 - 27 Jun 2010  International Jewellery Art - Temporary Gallery.
Fair  14 May 2010 - 17 May 2010  Collect 2010.
Exhibition  13 May 2010 - 13 Jun 2010  Le verre dans tous ses éclats.
Exhibition  08 May 2010 - 22 Aug 2010  Lingam - 121 symbols of fertility.
Exhibition  16 Apr 2010 - 15 May 2010  Material and Colour.
Exhibition  14 Apr 2010 - 07 May 2010  Gray Area Symposium: An Academic Encounter.
Exhibition  09 Mar 2010 - 09 Apr 2010  Karl Fritsch.
Exhibition  03 Mar 2010 - 09 Mar 2010  Sanna and Karin: Memories from Schmuck 2010.
Fair  03 Mar 2010 - 09 Mar 2010  Schmuck 2010.
Exhibition  02 Mar 2010 - 10 Apr 2010  Karl Fritsch: jewelry and Richard Wathen: paintings.
Exhibition  17 Jan 2010 - 14 Mar 2010  Lingam.
2009:
Exhibition  05 Dec 2009 - 16 Jan 2010  For Long And Faithful Duty - 10 Years Of Beauty.
Exhibition  28 Nov 2009 - 29 Jan 2010  Twitter Tea Party | xmas 09.
Exhibition  02 Oct 2009 - 31 Oct 2009  Glass.
Exhibition  07 Sep 2009 - 12 Sep 2009  Lingam.
Exhibition  14 Jul 2009 - 09 Aug 2009  Karl Fritsch & Lisa Walker.
Exhibition  07 Jun 2009 - 28 Jun 2009  Ringvormen.
Workshop  11 May 2009 - 16 May 2009  RinGO 09.
Exhibition  08 May 2009 - 23 May 2009  Garbage Pin Project:'worth VS waste'.
Exhibition  09 Apr 2009 - 02 May 2009  Garbage Pin Project: 'worth VS waste'.
Exhibition  04 Apr 2009 - 09 May 2009  Karl Fritsch: last call for NZWN.
Exhibition  13 Mar 2009 - 15 Mar 2009  Returning to the jewel is a return from exile.
Fair  11 Mar 2009 - 17 Mar 2009  Schmuck : The program 2009.
2008:
Exhibition  13 Dec 2008 - 31 Dec 2008  Long live the ring!.
Exhibition  28 Nov 2008 - 27 Feb 2009  Metrosideros Robusta – The jewelry of Karl Fritsch.
Exhibition  05 Aug 2008 - 15 Aug 2008  Metrosideros Robusta.
Exhibition  10 Jul 2008 - 02 Aug 2008  Loose Diamonds.
Award  03 Jun 2008 - 28 Jun 2008  Gallery Funaki Winners 2008.
Exhibition  28 May 2008 - 29 Aug 2008  Schmuckpole: Wilhelm Nagel und Karl Fritsch.
Exhibition  07 May 2008 - 29 Jun 2008  Metrosideros Robusta.
Exhibition  23 Apr 2008 - 17 May 2009  Preziosa 2009: Cutting the Mirror.
Exhibition  11 Apr 2008 - 02 May 2008  Karl Fritsch and Robert Baines.
Exhibition  22 Feb 2008 - 05 Apr 2008  Metrosideros Robusta, Schmuck von Karl Fritsch.
2007:
Exhibition  16 Nov 2007 - 22 Dec 2007  Contemporary Jewellery.
Exhibition  13 Oct 2007 - 10 Nov 2007  Karl Fritsch.
Meeting  25 Feb 2007 - 25 Feb 2007  Book presentation by Karl Fritsch.
Exhibition  21 Jan 2007 - 25 Mar 2007  Metrosideros Robusta.
Award  21 Jan 2007 - 21 Jan 2007  Françoise van den Bosch Foundation Prize 2006.
2006:
Exhibition  08 Jun 2006 - 09 Jul 2006  Trophies. Seven goldsmiths from Munich.
Exhibition  20 Apr 2006 - 14 May 2006  Harmonic clashes in the research’s jewelry.
2004:
Exhibition  09 Nov 2004 - 13 Mar 2005  Ich jagte den Diamanthai. (I hunted the diamond shark).
Workshop  13 Jun 2004 - 17 Jun 2004  ContacT. Workshops and Conferences.

Publications      View / hide publications

Book:  Sacrés Outils !. Robin, Céline; Mazlo, RobertRobert Mazlo Endowment Fund for Art and Contemporary Jewellery:  Paris,  2023
Book:  Karl Fritsch: Ruby Gold. Galerie ZinkArnoldsche Art Publishers:  Seubersdorf,  2020
Book:  Silver Meetings 2. Contemporary Jewellery in Legnica 2012 - 2019. Gallery of Art in LegnicaGallery of Art in Legnica:  Legnica,  2019
Book:  David Bielander. Twenty Years. 2016-1996. Britton, Helen; Emmelkamp, Rutger; Bergesio, Maria Cristina; Wild, Julia; Bakker, Gijs; Unger, Marjan; Bitzer, Jochen; Greenbaum, Toni; Bielander, Raphael; Krohn, Tim; Veiteberg, Jorunn; Fritsch, Karl; Hufnagl, Florian; Schobinger, Bernhard; Hungerbühler, BennoArnoldshe Art Publishers:  Stuttgardt,  2017
Book:  Jewellery 1970–2015. Bollmann Collection. Arnoldsche Art Publishers:  Stuttgart,  2015
Book:  From here and there. Jewellery Class University of Art and Design HalleJewellery Class University of Art and Design Halle:  Halle,  2015
Book:  WUNDERRÜMA. Hook and Sinker Publications:  Wellington,  2014
Book:  ManoBook No7 - GeMANOgy. MANO independent curatorial team for contemporary jewellery:  Taiwan,  2013
Book:  Klaus Bürgel: Endless Conundrum. Drawings, Sculpture, Jewellery. Moore, Susanna; Von Uslar, Rafael; Fritsch, KarlDarling Publications:  Cologne,  2012
Book:  Karl Fritsch: Ninkern. Kruger, Daniel; Rothmann, Gerd; Baines, Robert; Hufnagl, Florian; Fritsch, KarlBraunbook Publications:  Wellington,  2012
Book:  Mari Ishikawa: Moonlight Shadow. Jewellery & Photograph. Kulturreferat der Landeshauptstadt & Mari Ishikawa:  Munich,  2010
Book:  Die Ringe des Karl Fritsch. Fritsch, KarlBraunbook Publisher:  Munich,  2010
Book:  The Compendium Finale of Contemporary Jewellery Makers. Darling Publications:  Cologne,  2009
Book:  Karl Fritsch: Die 7 Todsünden. Dietrich, Gerhard; Von Uslar, RafaelDarling Publications:  Cologne,  2008
Book:  Karl Fritsch. Metrosideros Robusta. Fritsch, KarlDarling Publications:  Cologne,  2007
Book:  The Baby Brick. The Lim Collection, the very early works. Fritsch, KarlDarling Publications:  Cologne,  2007
Book:  Karl Fritsch, Schmuck: The Jewellery of Karl Fritsch. Baines, Robert; Fritsch, KarlO Book Publisher:  Amsterdam,  2007
Book:  Garbage Pin Project. Woth vs Waste. Klimt02 Publishers:  Barcelona,