Herwig Maria Stark began training as a fashion designer in Vienna and completed it at the Accademia Italiana Moda in Florence/Italy. After a few successful years as a fashion and costume designer, he turned to the study of painting.
He studied with Irina Nakhova, among others, and researched the techniques of the Old Masters with Ramiro Sanchez in Florence. His insights, coupled with personal experiences in foreign cultures, enriched and expanded his vision of art and shaped his unmistakable style.
“I see, observe, hear, notice, feel, think, stimulate, pass on, process,” is the artistic credo of Herwig Maria Stark.
In his expressionist paintings, he explores all facets of human existence – both inside and outside – and concentrates on the essence of his observations because of this research. The deep immersion in the essential core issues of our existence reflects his humanistic worldview. His pictures, especially the poetic, effective portraits, tell the viewer new stories every day. They grow and develop in parallel with the reality of their recipients’ lives.
Herwig Maria Stark’s works have received several international awards and are in renowned public collections, such as the Paul Getty Foundation, the Trierenberg Art Foundation, the Van Abbe Museum, the Museo MAGMA and the Jan Kossen Foundation. He is a member of the Concilio Europeo dell’Arte (Venice/Paris).
EDUCATION
1985 – 1989 Fashion School of the City of Vienna in Hetzendorf Castle, Vienna, Austria
1989 – 1990 A.I. M. Accademia Italiana Moda Florence, Italy
2000 – Study of Painting, Irina Nakhova (visual artist), New York
2002 – Study of Painting at the Academy of Fine Arts, Professor Franz Graf, Vienna, Austria
2007 – Study of “Old Master Techniques”, “Faber Castell Academy” Nuremberg, Germany
2009 – Studies of the “Old Master Techniques of the Italian Masters” Academy of Art, Angel Ramiro Sanchez (visual artist), Florence, Italy
AWARDS
2017 – Finalist Premio Marchionni 2017, Sardinia, Italy
2014 – IBAM 2014 Award, Nina Torres Fine Art, Miami, USA
2009 – Art on Web 2008/2009 Competition, the painting “THE DOLL” awarded by the jury of the Concilio Europeo dell’Arte, 1st Prize for Painting, Venice, Italy
2006 – 2nd Prize for Painting, Biennale Austria 2006, Hüttenberg, Austria
2005 – “Premio Lorenzo Il Magnifico”, Città di Firenze award; Biennale Internazionale dell’ Arte Contemporanea di Firenze 2005″, Florence, Italy
1996 – State Prize for “Best Men’s Collection 1996”. Ministry of Science, Research and Culture, Vienna, Austria
1990 – International Designdiploma, Accademia Italiana Moda Firenze, Florence, Italy
MEMBERSHIPS
Concilio Europeo dell ́ Arte – Venice, Italy
Unione Cattolica Artisti Italiani – Italy
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Museo Magmma, Villacidro, Sardinia, Italy
Jan Kossen Foundation, New York – Venice – Shanghai
Fondazione Opera Campana dei Caduti, Rovereto, Italy
Van Abbe Museum, Eindhoven, Netherlands
Paul Getty Foundation, Siena, Italy
Trierenberg Art, Traun, Austria
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
William Braemer, USA
Nina Torres, USA
Alexander, Graf von Aichlburg, Austria
Roubal Private Collection, Austria
EXHIBITIONS (selection)
2025 – Wikam Artfair Palais Ferstel – Vienna/ 08 – 16 March 2025 by Galerie Puschitz/Austria
2024 – “The Biennial Project” Venice
2024 – Presentation of my artwork” Into The Future” on a big screen @ Time Square NYC
2024 – “Pink Reality” Galerie Roland Puschitz, 17.01. – 14.02.2024
2023 – NOE ART- Noble Surfaces/ Austria- Touring Exhibition:
29.04.–21.05.2023: Village Museum Roiten, Rappottenstein/Austria
07.05.–04.06.:2023: Galerie im Lindenhof, Raabs an der Thaya/Austria
01.07.–06.08.2023: Langenzersdorf Museum, Langenzersdorf/Austria
12.08.–14.09.2023: FeRRum – Welt des Eisens, Ybbsitz/Austria
23.09.–08.10.2023: Haus der Kunst, Baden/Austria
16.10.–27.10.2023: Rathaus, Scheibbs/Austria
2022 – Miami River Art fair, Nina Torres Fine Art – Miami, USA
2021 – Another Day in Paradise, Spazio SV, Scoletta di San Zaccaria – Venice, Italy
2019 – Halle E, MQ Vienna, Austria (solo exhibition)
2018 – Halle E, MQ Vienna, Austria (solo exhibition)
2018 – Kunstsalon 5, Starnberg, Germany
2018 – Il Salone dell’Arte, Trieste, Italy
2018 – Triennale d ́arte Venezia 2018, Palazzo Albrizzi – Capello, Venice, Italy
2017 – “Aufbrezelt Is” – Ausstellungsraum Wien; Vienna, Austria
2017 – Museo MMAGMA, Sardinia, Italy
2017 – Galerija AB, Maglaj, Bosnia – Herzegovina
2016 – STAR(K) pop up, Ausstellungsraum Wien, Vienna, Austria (solo exhibition)
2016 – BA contemporary 2016, Ausstellungsraum Wien, Vienna, Austria
2016 – Centro d’Arte San Vidal, Venice, Italy
2016 – Jan Kossen Contemporary, New York City, USA
2016 – Galeria InParadiso, Biennale Giardini-Venice, Italy
2016 – Galerie am Färberbach, Steinbach an der Steyr, Austria
2016 – ARTe Sindelfingen, Germany
2015 – Nina Torres Fine Art, Miami, USA (solo exhibition)
2015 – Vernice Art Fair, Forli, Italy
2014 – Miami River Art Fair 2014, Miami, USA
2014 – Dray Walk Gallery, London, GB
2014 – Galerie am Stubentor, Vienna, Austria
2013 – Miami River Art Fair, Miami, USA
2013 – Fondazione Opera Campana dei Caduti, Rovereto, Italy
2013 – ARTSociates, Lawangwangi Creative Space, Bandung, Indonesia
2013 – Art Monaco 2013, Grimaldi Forum, Monte Carlo, Monaco
2013 – Kleine Galerie der Stadt Bozen, Italy
2012 – Scope Art Show Miami 2012, Miami, Florida, USA
2012 – Nina Torres Fine Art, Miami, Florida, USA
2012 – Centro di Arte Moderna, Pisa, Italy
2012 – Studio Iroko, Milan, Italy
2011 – Siena Art Institute, Siena, Italy
2011 – Concilio Europeo dell’Arte, Forte Marghera, Venice, Italy
2011 – Van Abbe Museum, Eindhoven, Netherlands
2010 – Galleria InParadiso- on the occasion of the Biennale of Architecture, Venice, Italy
2010 – Art Shanghai 2010
2010 – Trierenberg Art Project, Tannpapier, Traun, Austria
2009 – Frieze Art Fair, London, GB
2009 – Gallery InParadiso, on occasion of the 53rd BIENNALE Venezia, Venice, Italy
2009 – 1st International Art Exhibition of West Java, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
2008 – Bank Austria Kunstforum, Vienna, Austria (solo exhibition)
2008 – Gallery Lanin, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2008 – NY Arts Beijing Gallery, Beijing, China
2007 – Lange Nacht der Museen 2007, Klagenfurt, Austria (solo exhibition)
2007 – Burg Strechau, Lassing, Austria
2006 – BIENNALE AUSTRIA 2006, Hüttenberg, Austria
2006 – S. Lorenzo di Pescia, Italy
2006 – Museo Diocesano di Stefano, Florence, Italy
2005 – Biennale Internazionale dell´ ́Arte Contemporanea, Florence, Italy
2005 – Ringstrassen-Galerien, Vienna, (solo exhibition)
2005 – Hofburg, Vienna, (solo exhibition)
2005 – Brucknerhaus, Linz, (solo exhibition)
2005 – ORF Gallery (Willkommen Österreich), Vienna, (solo exhibition)
2004 – Salon priveé Aichelburg, Vienna, (solo exhibition)
2004 – Art Fair Salzburg, Austria
2004 – Barcelona, Spain
2003 – Gallery SIMON, Palais Esterhazy, Vienna, (solo exhibition)
2003 – Austrian Institute of Culture and Ryu Gallery/ Seoul, South Korea, Palais Palffy, Vienna 2003 – Schloss Thürnthal, Austria, (solo exhibition)
2002 – Theater Spielraum, Vienna (solo exhibition)
2001 – JOOP, Vienna (solo exhibition)
Modern Cruisaders
The “S” Man
The Green Coat
Once Upon a Time
The Little House of the Good Witch of the West
