Thomas Schütte (b. 1954)

Thomas Schütte’s collection of architecture models spans over two decades of architectural design by the artist. The portfolio features twenty-seven etching and nyloprints on large sheets of paper, each titled and dated in both German and Chinese. The designs themselves are as varied as they are imaginative. Weaving together his own compelling visions with brutalist aesthetics, Schütte’s illustrations are born out of an informed sense of irony and morose provocation. From a Stalinist brothel to a ship in the form of a fixed upward staircase, the etchings comprising Architektur Modelle 1980-2006 (Architecture Models 1980-2006) are as much cultural commentary as they are creative design. Some have since been transformed into permanent installations or three-dimensional models, while others remain ideas.

Born in Oldenburg in 1954, Thomas Schütte studied under Gerhard Richter in Dusseldorf before gaining international fame through sculpting, painting and drawing. In 2005 he won the Golden Lion Award for Best Artist at the Venice Biennale, and in 2010 was awarded the Düsseldorf Prize. His works can be found in international collections including the Tate, MoMa, and the Art Institute of Chicago.