Ekkehard Altenburger

The sculptor Ekkehard Altenburger grew up on a farm at the Swiss / German border, and has been based in the UK since 1995. He studied sculpture - first at Bremen's Hochschule fuer Kuenste and later at Edinburgh College of Art. He finished his studies in 1999 with an MA from Chelsea College of Art in London. Prior to his academic studies, he worked as master mason at the Gothic Cathedral of Schwabisch Gmuend in South Germany.

Architecture has always influenced his work, which was the main reason for moving to London, to develop a practice very much inspired by the city that constantly inspires, challenges and informs his work. Meeting and filming the then 94 year old architect Oscar Niemeyer in 2001 in his office at the Copacabana left a lasting influence.

His work explores the physical balance of the built environment, using architectural references as well as sculptural volumes of physical material. This balance is also represented in the relationship between form and surface of a sculpture. Altenburger often uses texture and colour to manipulate surfaces, adding a further layer of information to a sculptural form.

Altenburger usually works in heavy materials, mainly steel and stone. More recently he has developed prints and drawings in paper which appear as assembled reliefs.

Many of his works are in the public domain, where he developed site specific works for both private and public clients. Due to the scale of his works, Altenburger regularly works with quarries and granite / marble factories. His most recent work, “house for a Gordian knot” he produced in Carrara, Italy and it was installed at the University of Nottingham earlier this year.

Altenburger has shown his work extensively in Europe and overseas. Recent exhibitions include SKULPTUR at Museum Rehmann (Switzerland), Sculpture at Glyndebourne, On form at Ashall Manor, and the Royal Academy (London) Summer Show 2013.

He has permanent works both in the UK and throughout Europe but also more recently in Central America.