WILLI KISSMER
Born in 1951, in Dulsenberg, Germany, the artist employs combinations of etching, aquatint, drypoint and mezzotint techniques on his copperplates. A range of warm tones and the talent to bring an electrifying edge to his subject, in part, links Kissmer’s art to a long tradition of realism in northern European painting. Willi Kissmer’s expressive and exaggerated interpretation of detail is a trait that permeates the body of his art that has been described as sensual, provocative, technical and mysterious. His works are not conventionally pretty but compelling – confrontational. Willi Kissmer’s studio and residence is in an old industrial tower in southwest Germany. Although his trips have taken him all over Europe, Asia, and the United States, his subjects are always close at hand. Consequently, his wife became his ultimate model. These elements can include combinations of the female figure, everyday objects and residential architecture. Even though the nude female body has been subject for art for many hundreds of years, Willi Kissmer has been able to find his very own unique style that makes his work so recongnizable.
EDUCATION Folkwang Art School, 1976
GROUP EXHIBITIONS 1999 Art Expo, New York, USA 1999 Art Multiple, Dusseldorf, Germany 1998 Art Expo, New York, USA 1998 Galerie Marijke Raalmakers, Grubenworst, Netherlands 1998 PAN, Amsterdam, Netherlands 1998 Kunsthaus Veith, Pirmasens, Germany 1998 Art Multiple, Dusseldorf, Germany 1998 Galerie No. 3, Essen, Germany 1998 Art Expo, Los Angeles, California, USA 1997 Art Expo, New York, USA 1997 Art Multiple, Dusseldorf, Germany 1997 Saga, Paris, France 1996 Lehmbruck Museum, Duisberg Germany 1996 Cubus Kunsthalle, Duisburg, Germany 1996 Internationale Grafik Triennale, Frechen, Germany 1996 Art Multiple, Dusseldorf, Germany 1996 Art Expo, New York, USA 1995 Art Stockholm, Sweden 1995 Art Expo, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA 1995 Art Multiple, Dusseldorf, Germany 1995 Art Expo, New York, USA 1994 Galerie Marijke Raalmakers, Grubbenvorst, Netherlands 1994 Line Art, Gent, Belgium 1994 Art Multiple, Dusseldorf, Germany 1993 Art Multiple, Dusseldorf, Germany 1992 International Graphics Trienale, Frechen German 1991 “Kontakte II”, Duisburg, Germany 1991 Moskau/Leningrad, USSR 1991 “Erotic Art”, Galerie Tabula, Tuebingen 1990 City Gallery, Portsmouth, Great Britain 1990 Marietta/Cobb Museum, Marietta, USA 1989 Galerie 4, Arlesheim, Switzerland 1988 Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg, Germany
SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2006-04 Hart Gallery, California 2000 Kleine Weltlaterne, Berlin, Germany 2000 Galerie Odermatt and Spatz, Schiffersstadt, Germany 2000 Turmgalerie, Bonn, Germany 2000 Art Et Cetera, Staelen, Germany 1999 Galerie Hermann, Neumarkt i.d.Opf, Germany 1999 Parkview Fine Paintings, Bristol, UK 1999 Galerie Helga Wicher, Wuppertal, Germany 1999 Galerie No. 3, Bocholt, Germany 1999 Galerie Aurika, Frankfurt, Germany 1999 John Bolxham Fine Art, London, UK 1999 Galerie No. 3, Essen, Germany 1999 Galerie Conrad, Bonn, Germany 1998 Art Et Cetera, Staelen, Germany 1998 Galerie Fritz Geyer, Plauen, Germany 1998 Galerie Schoenhof, Jade, Germany 1998 Ritterhof Gallery, Salzgitter, Germany 1998 Galerie Aspectus, Neustadt a.d.w., Germany 1997 Parkview Fine Paintings, Bristol, UK 1997 Ritterhof Gallery, Salzgitter, Germany 1997 Galerie No. 3, Isselburg Anholt, Germany 1997 John Bolxham Fine Art, London, UK 1996 Galerie Tabula, Tubingen, Germany 1996 Turmgalerie Bonn, Germany 1996 Kunsthandlung Moers, Germany 1996 Galerie Articles, Kevelaer, Germany 1995 Gallery No. 3, Isselburg Anholt, Germany 1995 Parkview Fine Paintings, Bristol, UK 1995 Ritterhof Gallery, Salzgitter, Germany 1995 Kunsthaus Ratingen, Germany 1993 MRL, Long Beach, USA 1993 Johnson Art, San Luis Obispo, USA 1993 Nevada Institue for Contemporary Art(NICA), Las Vegas, USA 1992 Stadtwerke Duisburg, Germany 1992 Galerie Aviva, Essen, Germany 1992 Galerie Articles, Kevelaer, Germany 1992 Reid Galleries, Carmel, USA 1991 Interart Galerie Reich, Koeln, Germany;Tercera Gallery, Los Gatos, USA 1991 Galerie Malek, Bensheim, Germany 1990 Amtsrichterhaus, Schwarzenbeck, Germany 1989 Allen Augustine Gallery, Lake Tahoe, USA 1989 Sterling Gallery, La Jolla, USA 1989 Allen Augustine Gallery, Lake Tahoe, USA 1989 Sterling Gallery, La Jolla, USA
SELECTED PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ART COLLECTIONS Kaestner Gesellschaft Germany Aldegrever Gesellschaft Germany Helen Chrysler Green New York USA Mark & Sandra Tratos Las Vegas USA Kate Cuddy Gielen London Ontario Canada
