Jürgen Partenheimer is born in Munich in 1947. From 1968 to 1970 he studies art history and philosophy at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in his native city. In 1970 he continues his education in the United States. In the meantime, he is developing as a visual artist and interrupts his studies for a period as ‘artist in residence’ at the Museo de Arte Abstracto Español in Cuenca (Spain). In 1973, he graduates in fine art and art history from the University of Arizona, and in 1974 he returns to the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, to obtain his doctorate there.
In 1979 Partenheimer has his first solo exhibition at the Richard Demarco Gallery in Edinburgh. In 1980-1981 he participates in the XI Biennale of Paris and the XVI Biennale of São Paulo. Later (1986) will follow the Venice Biennale and exhibitions in leading museums around the world, such as the MoMA in New York (1994), Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam (1997), National Museum of Fine Arts in Beijing (2000), Kunstmuseum Bonn (2008) and Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich (2013 and 2014).
Although Partenheimer’s work can be placed within the tradition of post-minimalism or conceptual abstract art, it has its own character. His ‘metaphysical abstract art’ has developed into an unmistakable personal universe, with drawings, paintings, sculptures and artist’s books as media, contrary to all contemporary art developments.
Jürgen Partenheimer lives and works in Germany and Italy.
Jürgen Partenheimer before his sculpture ‘Axis Mundi’ in London (2006)
