On February 22, 2017, the world lost Fritz Koenig, an influential and talented artist known for his unique approach to sculpting. His life was spent at his estate, Ganslberg, where he lived a fulfilling and rich existence.
Born in Würzburg in 1924, Koenig’s early experience fighting on the Eastern Front during WWII left a lasting impact on his life. This experience of fragility and tension between love, death, and transience became the central theme of his work.
After studying under Anton Hiller at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, Koenig rose to fame as one of the most important sculptors in Germany during the second half of the 20th century.
His success extended internationally, with notable exhibitions at the XXIX Venice Biennale in 1958 and documenta II in Kassel in 1959. The following year, his work was featured in his first solo exhibition at Galerie Günther Franke in Munich. In 1961, he had his first exhibition in the United States at the Staempfli Gallery in New York.
In 1964, Koenig was appointed to the Chair of Plastic Design at the Faculty of Architecture at the Technical University of Munich. His unique language of form earned him worldwide recognition, leading to his participation in numerous significant international exhibitions and competitions.
Driven by the need to remember the victims of National Socialism, Koenig created poignant works such as the ‘Pietà’ for Maria Regina Martyrum in Berlin Plötzensee (1962) and the Federal Republic of Germany memorial in Mauthausen (1981). His monumental ‘Klagebalken’ from 1995 serves as a memorial for the victims of the 1972 attack at the Munich Olympic site.
Koenig’s most famous work, the ‘Large Spherical Caryatid NY’ for the plaza of the World Trade Center in New York, was created between 1968 and 1971. Though damaged in the 9/11 tragedy, it remains a powerful memorial to the victims of the attack.
Throughout his life, Koenig received numerous awards for his contributions to the art world, including the Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art and the Grand Cross of Mer. His legacy as a master sculptor and an influential figure in the realm of art will always be remembered.
www.ftn-books.com has several Koenig publications available.
