Michael Craig-Martin: Arts & Music

Sir Michael Craig-Martin, born in Dublin in 1941, is one of the most influential British artists and teachers of his generation. He taught at Goldsmiths' College in London, where he had a strong influence on students such as Julian Opie, Ian Davenport and Damien Hirst.

Michael Craig-Martin had his first solo exhibition in a major Austrian museum back in 2006 at Kunsthaus Bregenz. Recently, the Albertina Modern showed his works in the group exhibition "The Print: Warhol to Kiefer," from Pop Art to the present. Until now, his works have not been shown in an extensive sales exhibition in Austria. We are therefore all the more pleased to be able to present Michael Craig-Martin's print works to you for the first time in our gallery!

Craig-Martin has developed an unmistakable style in the more than 50 years of his artistic work by depicting mostly ordinary household objects. He often depicts man-made objects rather than people in his works.

A focal point of the exhibition is Craig-Martin's Metal Flowers, polished steel reliefs, painted with spray paint, in a series of 4 pieces: rose, tulip, gerbera, bird of paradise. Also in focus is his signature depiction of everyday objects, of musical instruments, individually and combined, as well as his interpretation of works by old masters that inspired him, such as Da Vinci, Caravaggio, Velazquez or Saenredam.

Moving from Ireland to Washington DC at a young age, Craig-Martin attended schools in England and Bogotá, studied in New York, and completed his artistic training in Paris and Yale. Since his first solo exhibition in London in 1969, Craig-Martin has exhibited internationally over the decades, and his work is in major collections around the world. He has participated in the documenta in Kassel and the São Paolo Biennale, and was knighted in 2016 for his services to the arts. Michael Craig-Martin lives and works in London.