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Otto Künzli

Published: 05.02.2024
Otto Künzli Otto Künzli

Bio

Otto Künzli is one of the most renowned and respected jewellers working today. The Swiss-trained, Munich-based artist has created truly iconic examples of contemporary jewellery including 1995’s 1cm of Love and 1980’s Gold Macht Blind (Gold Makes You Blind). Künzli’s minimalist, yet meticulously crafted work references cultural phenomena, utilising the power of metaphor and iconography with wit and sophistication.  In addition to his highly respected artistic practice, Künzli has an accomplished academic career spanning over twenty years.  As director of the Jewellery department at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste Munich from 1991 to 2014, he taught a number of prominent contemporary jewellers including Lisa Walker, Karl Fritsch and Helen Britton.  In March 2013 his major retrospective titled The Exhibition showcased his extensive ouerve and was accompanied by The Book, a comprehensive catalogue documenting a career spanning over 40 years.

Statement

Me wa kokoro no kagami. Japanisches Sprichwort
 

CV      View / hide description

Events      View / hide events

2024:
Exhibition  26 Nov 2024 - 08 Dec 2024  Die Knochigen by Otto Künzli.
Exhibition  24 Feb 2024 - 09 Mar 2024  The Professionals by Otto Künzli.
2023:
Exhibition  21 Jun 2023 - 28 Jul 2023  Frames and Focus. Displaced Jewels.
Exhibition  08 Mar 2023 - 12 Mar 2023  Galerie Rosemarie Jäger at Frame 2023.
2022:
Exhibition  06 Jul 2022 - 10 Jul 2022  Galerie Rosemarie Jäger at Frame 2022.
Exhibition  15 Apr 2022 - 28 May 2022  West Meet East.
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.
2020:
Exhibition  17 Nov 2020 - 08 Jan 2021  Two of a Kind.
2019:
Exhibition  06 Sep 2019 - 05 Nov 2019  MasterMakers.
2018:
Exhibition  14 Nov 2018 - 12 Dec 2018  Day and Night by Otto Künzli and Therese Hilbert.
Exhibition  17 Oct 2018 - 17 Nov 2018  50 years Galerie Handwerk Munchen.
Lectures  15 Oct 2018 - 18 Oct 2018  Two Lectures by Otto Künzli at China Academy of Art.
Fair  07 Mar 2018 - 13 Mar 2018  Schmuck 2018.
Exhibition  23 Feb 2018 - 24 Mar 2018  Aus der Tiefe by Therese Hilbert.
Exhibition  08 Jan 2018 - 29 Apr 2018  All or Nothing: Collection Jurriaan van den Berg.
2017:
Exhibition  17 Nov 2017 - 28 May 2018  Jewelry of Ideas: Gifts from the Susan Grant Lewin Collection..
Exhibition  20 Sep 2017 - 24 Sep 2017  Galerie Rosemarie Jäger at TRESOR Basel 2017.
Exhibition  19 May 2017 - 05 Nov 2017  Medusa Bijoux et tabous.
Exhibition  30 Apr 2017 - 21 May 2017  Nukleus by Therese Hilbert and Otto Künzli.
Exhibition  10 Mar 2017 - 07 May 2017  Private Confessions. The Drawings of Jewellery Artists.
Exhibition  08 Mar 2017 - 14 Mar 2017  Quidam by Otto Künzli.
2016:
Exhibition  11 Oct 2016 - 12 Nov 2016  Evil & I by Otto Künzli & Therese Hilbert.
Exhibition  05 Jun 2016 - 11 Dec 2016  &: Hilbert & Künzli.
Award  08 Mar 2016 - 25 Mar 2016  Legnica International Jewellery Competition 2016.

Publications      View / hide publications

Book:  Jiro Kamata: VOICES. Arnoldsche Art Publishers:  Stuttgart,  2019
Book:  Silver Meetings 2. Contemporary Jewellery in Legnica 2012 - 2019. Gallery of Art in LegnicaGallery of Art in Legnica:  Legnica,  2019
Book:  Mia Maljojoki, Jewelry 1998–2018. Maljojoki, MiaArnoldsche Art Publishers:  Stuttgart,  2018
Book:  Mari Ishikawa : Jewellery & Photography, Where does the parallel world exist?. Arnoldsche Art Publishers:  Stuttgart,  2016
Book:  Private Confessions. Drawing & Jewellery. Maurer Zilioli, EllenArnoldsche Art Publishers:  Stuttgart,  2016
Book:  Otto Künzli: The Book. Künzli, OttoArnoldsche Art Publisher:  Stuttgart,  2013
Book:  The Fat Booty of Madness. The Jewellery Department at the Academy of Fine Arts Munich. ARNOLDSCHE Art Publishers:  Stüttgart,  2008
Book:  Jiro Kamata: Momentopia. Kamata, JiroGesellschaft für Goldschmiedekunst e.V.:  Hanau,  2008
Book:  Annamaria Zanella: Constructive Works, 1993-2007. Comune di Padova Assesorato alla Cultura:  Padua,  2007
Book:  Tatort-Tatwort. Künzli, OttoGalerie Marzee:  Nijmegen,  2005
Book:  Ding. Peter Bauhuis. Britton, Helen; Künzli, Otto; Janzen, ThomasGessler, R:  Verlag,  2001
Book:  Cozticteocuitlatl 1995-1998. Künzli, OttoGalerie Wittenbrink, Galerie Sophie Lachaert, Galerie Ra & Kunstforum Kirchberg:  Munich,  1998
Book:  Otto Künzli: Oh, say!. Künzli, OttoWesleyan University:  Middletown,  1992
Book:  Otto Künzli: Das dritte Auge. The Third Eye. Het derde oog.. Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam:  Amsterdam,  1991