Rudolf Schwarzkogler

Born 1940 Vienna, Austria

Died 1969 in Vienna, Austria

After his premature and tragic death in 1969 at the age of 28, Rudolf Schwarzkogler bequeathed a very impressive oeuvre. Born in Vienna, he attended the Graphic Teaching Institute there and later enrolled at the University of Applied Arts. His artistic work consists of paintings, montages, drawings and textual works. Actions were also part of his oeuvre, mostly documented photographically and performed without an audience. Except Hochzeit, his first action, which took place in front of a small circle of invited friends. From the mid-1960s on, he created many of his works and collaborations within the framework of Viennese Actionism (Wiener Aktionismus) as one of the co-founders of the movement. The works often had a ritual, spiritual character. They dealt with medical as well as psychological themes, for which clinical utensils were used. Beyond the circle of Viennese Actionism, Rudolf Schwarzkogler’s artistic expression was considered an important role model for artists both nationally and internationally. 

Even though, during his lifetime, the artist struggled with going open to a wider audience, after his death his artist friends and life partner have brought his work to the public. In retrospect, works by Schwarzkogler have been shown at important art festivals, like Documenta 5, the 46th Biennale di Venezia or the 4th Biennale de Lyon. His work has also been shown in group and solo exhibitions at Austrian institutions such as MUMOK, Belvedere, Neue Galerie Graz, Galerie nächst St. Stephan, as well as renowned international institutions like MoMa, Centre Pompidou, Ropac gallery and Hauser & Wirth. The first solo show of Schwarzkogler at Krinzinger gallery took place in 1976 at its space in Innsbruck. Since then, the galley has hosted several solo and group shows presenting the artist’s legacy.