Peter Demetz, 1969 | Figurative wood sculptor

Peter Demetz was born in Bolzano-Italy and lives and works in Ortisei (BZ).

After completing his studies at the Ortisei Art Institute, Peter Demetz began an apprenticeship under Maestro Heinrich Demetz and earned his Master's Degree in sculpture.

In the years since, he has participated in a number of exhibitions in Italy and abroad, including Austria, Germany, the United States, Belgium, and Turkey.

From 1999-2001, Demetz studied education, teaching, and the psychology of learning and development, and has been teaching courses and seminars on wood carving since 2001.

From 2002-2006, he was Head Teacher for the Art Sculpture Course at Germany's Lignea University of Zwickau, as well as the Schneeberg's Faculty of Applied Arts and the Daetz-Centrum in Lichtenstein.

Between 2007-2010, Demetz won major awards in art shows including "III Trienale Ladina", the "Arciere Award", and the "XVIII Sulmona Prize".

Considered on of the most interesting contemporary sculptors, Demetz has been actively supported by organizations including the Swarovski Design Center, Wattens, the LKJ-Sachsen Leipzig, and Daetz-Centrum in Lichtenstein.

Demetz' installations push beyond the framework of daily life, capturing the simple gestures and unique poses of his subject, who are often large, balding, and overtly masculine men.

His female subjects are represented down to the smallest detail, bringing out the inherent femininity of their accessories, hair, and clothing.

Both his male and female subjects are carefully wrought to underline their average status, and specific characteristics indicating their age or social class are underplayed to allow the observer to focus on their essential being, or soul.

Subjects are often rendered from behind, as the author tries to preserve a sense of privacy while at the same time "stealing" a snapshot of his subject.

There is never eye contact between the subject and the observer, giving the impression that these figures are trapped in their own world: they are aware of being observed, yet leave an empty space between themselves and the observer.

Demetz communicates a strong sense of soul-searching in his works, which capture subjects in intimate yet mundane moments during which the true nature of existence is often contemplated.

Awards:

2007 - Honour award for the sculpture “Dialogo” (dialogue) at the competition “Nova” held in the province of Bolzano;

2007 - 1st prize at the competition for the 60th anniversary of the Bolzano fair for the work “Padiglione 1” (hall 1):

2008 - Honour award at the "Premio Arte" of magazine "Arte" - Giorgio Mondadori, work: "The mirror" 60 cmx50 cm, 2008;

2009 - Honour award at the art competition "eroism - inier, ncuei, duman" held in the province of Bolzano, work: “… hero …”, 70 cmx60 cm, 2009:

2010 - Winner at the art competition "III Trienala Ladina" on the Museum Ladin in San Martino in Badia, Italy;

2010 - 1st prize at the art prize "Premio Arciere" of Sant' Antioco in Sardegna (Italy) for the work: "L'analfabeta", 45x37 cm, (catalogue);

2010 - 1st prize at the international artprize "XXXVII Premio Sulmona", in Sulmona (AQ), for the work: "Remember", 60x49 cm, (catalogue);

2014 - 1st prize "Premio Pio Alferano" at the art prize "Murat è vivo" in Castellabate (SA), for the work: "Nelle strade di Pizzo", 85x100 cm, (catalogue).

Peter Demetz è nato a Bolzano, Italia, vive e lavora ad Ortisei (BZ);

1983-84 - Frequenza dell’Istituto d'Arte di Ortisei;

1984-90 - Apprendistato nel laboratorio del maestro Heinrich Demetz;

1993 - Diploma di maestro scultore;

1993-09 - Partecipazione a mostre collettive ad Ortisei (UNIKA), Milano, Vail/Colorado, Lipsia, Lichtenstein (D), Gent (B), Vienna, Firenze, Bolzano, Lecce, Istanbul, Palma de Mallorca e Roma. Lavori su commissione in Italia, Austria, Germania, Islanda e negli USA;

1995-02 - Insegnante alle Scuole Professionali per Scultori di Ortisei e Selva nelle materie: disegno, storia dell’arte e scultura;

1997-00 - Presidente dell'Associazione "Artigianato Artistico Gardenese" e coordinatore del gruppo UNIKA;

1999-02 - Formazione in pedagogia, didattica, psicologia dell'apprendimento e dello sviluppo;

dal 2001 - Ha tenuto dei seminari su temi inerenti la scultura, e corsi di scultura sul legno, modellare e disegno; fra altro per il Designcenter della ditta Swarovski a Wattens (A), la LKJ-Sachsen di Lipsia, il Daetz-Centrum a Lichtenstein (D) e l'Accademia delle Belle Arti di Carrara;

2002-06 - Docente responsabile al corso di studi "Arte della scultura lignea“ dell’università di Zwickau (Germania), facoltà d'arte applicata di Schneeberg, presso il Daetz-Centrum a Lichtenstein (D);

dal 2007 - rappresentato dalla galleria Artforum arte contemporanea di Bologna.

Riconoscimenti

2007 - Premiato al concorso “Nova” della provincia di Bolzano, opera: “Dialogo”, 62 cm x 46 cm, (catalogo);

2007 - 1° Premio al concorso per il 60° anniversario della Fiera di Bolzano, opera: “Padiglione 1”, 310 cm x 260 cm;

2008 - Premiato al "Premio Arte" della rivista Arte- Giorgio Mondadori, opera: "Lo Specchio" 60 cm x 50 cm;

2009 - Premiato al concorso artistico "Eroism – inier, ncuei, duman" dell’assessorato alla cultura ladina in collaborazione con il "Südtiroler Künstlerbund”, opera: “… Hero …”, 70 cm x 60 cm;

2010 - Vincitore al concorso artistico "III Trienala Ladina" al museo ladino di San Martino in Badia;

2010 - 1° Premio al "Premio Arciere" a Sant'Antioco in Sardegna, opera: "L'Analfabeta", 45 x 37 cm, (catalogo);

2010 - 1° Premio al "XXXVII Premio Sulmona", rassegna internazionale d'arte contemporanea a Sulmona (AQ), opera: "il Ricordo", 60x49 cm, (catalogo);

2014 - 1° Premio "Premio Pio Alferano" al concorso "Murat è vivo" a Castellabate (SA), opera: "Nelle strade di Pizzo", 85x100 cm, (catalogo).