Born in Liverpool (U.K.) in 1949, Tony Cragg lives and works in Germany, in Wuppertal, where he created his Foundation, the Waldfrieden sculpture park.

Excerpt from the inaugural lecture given by Tony Cragg, visiting professor at the Collège de France in Paris, on the theme of "Sculpture and Language”. Ed. Collège de France / Fayard :

It is in art that we find the greatest potential to express something definitively and uniquely human and spiritual that is not dictated by functionalism.

It is the emotional worlds that give character to individuals. And art is grafted onto the attempt to share emotions.

Works of art acquire meaning precisely because they offer an experience, they allow us to live something that involves going outside, beyond the perimeter of our known and describable existences.

The close relationship between matter, language and thought allows artists to change material forms and, in so doing, to create new thoughts and emotions.

This essential connection is the foundation of the practice of sculpture; it is what makes it a powerful and relevant form of artistic expression.

The fact that the word matter is derived from the word mater (mother) speaks volumes about its supremacy. The matter from which we are born, what we are made of.

From the heart of a sculptor who would have nothing to do if there were no matter, I say to you: "Make good use of it".

Né à Liverpool (U.K.) en 1949, Tony vit et travaille en Allemagne, à Wuppertal, où il a créé sa Fondation, le parc de sculptures de Waldfrieden. 

Extrait de la leçon inaugurale prononcée par Tony Cragg, professeur invité au Collège de France à Paris, sur le thème de « Sculpture et langage ». Ed. Collège de France / Fayard :

C’est dans l’art que nous trouvons le plus grand potentiel pour exprimer quelque chose de définitivement et uniquement humain et spirituel qui ne soit pas dicté par le fonctionnalisme.

Ce sont les univers émotionnels qui donnent leur caractère aux individus. Et l’art se greffe sur la tentative de partage des émotions.

Les œuvres d’art acquièrent du sens précisément parce qu’elles offrent une expérience, elles permettent de vivre quelque chose qui implique d’aller au-dehors, au-delà du périmètre de nos existences, connues et descriptibles.

La relation étroite entre la matière, le langage et la pensée permet aux artistes de changer les formes matérielles et, ce faisant, de créer des pensées et des émotions nouvelles.

Ce lien essentiel est le fondement de la pratique de la sculpture ; c’est ce qui en fait une forme puissante et pertinente de l’expression artistique.

Le fait que le mot matière soit dérivé du mot mater (mère) en dit long sur sa suprématie. La matière dont nous sommes issus, ce dont nous sommes faits.

Du fond du cœur d’un sculpteur qui n’aurait rien à faire s’il n’y avait pas de matière, je vous dis : « Faites-en bon usage ».

BIOGRAPHY, MUSEUM AND HONORARY DISTINCTION

2024

Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf, Germany
Castle Howard, York, UK

2023

Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich, Germany
Twist, Kistefosmuseum, Kistefos, Norway
Centre of Contemporary Art "Znaki Czasu", Torun, Poland
Outdoor, Lissabon, Portugal
Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporanea , Lissabon, Portugal

2022

Heart Musueum Herning / Denmark
Skulpturenpark Waldfrieden, Wuppertal / D
Reggia di Venaria, Torino / It.
Albertina / Wien / Austria
Museo Novecento, Florenz / It.
Chairman Künstlerverein Malkasten / Düsseldorf / D.

2021

Museo del Vetro / Venice / It.
Haus am Waldsee / Berlin / D
Houghton Hall / Norfolk / UK
Museum Belvédère / Herrenveen / Netherlands
Sekretar Class K of the North- Rhine- Westphalian Academy of Scienes and Arts

2020

Schloss Museum Wolfenbüttel / Wolfenbüttel / D
St Agnes Church / Köln / D
Especies Raras / Museu Oscar Niemeyer MON / Curritiba BRAZIL
Honorary Doctorate from the University of Gloucestershire Artist of the Year from American Friends of Museums in Israel

2019

Giardino di Boboli / Uffizi / Firenze Italy
Franz Marc Museum in Kochel / D
New Works / Skulpturenpark Waldfrieden / D
Awarded the Badge of Honor of he North Rhine Westphalian Academy of Sciences and Arts

2018

Im Ehrenhof, Kustpalast, Düsseldorf
Park Avenue Mails / Monumental sculptures / NY USA
Ciudad de la Artes y las Ciencas, Valencia, Spain
Museo Nivola, Orani, Sardinia, Italy
Istanbul Modern, Turkey
Sanati Contemporary Arts Museum, Kerman, Iran
Isfahan Museum of Contemporary Art, Iran
Awarded the Order of Merit of North Rhine-Westphalia

2017

Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art Iran
Ludwig Museum, Koblenz
Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Yorkshire U.K.
Villa Schöningen, Potsdam
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Habana, Cuba
Wrocław Contemporary Museum, Breslau
Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt
MUDAM, Luxembourg

2016

Retrospective Von der Heydt-Museum, Wuppertal
The Royal Djurgården, Stockholm
Centre of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko Poland
Hermitage St. Petersburg
Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt
Royal society of Medicine and Royal Academy Lecture Award Knight Bachelor app. by the Queen "Sculpor. Fro Services to Visual Arts and UK-German relations" 

2015

Glasstress 2015/Gotika. Collateral event of the 56th International Art exhibition/Biennale Art 2015
Skulptur “Runner” im Düsseldorfer Dreischeibenhaus
Dialogo con il Duomo, Milano
Projekt für die Synagoge Stommeln, Pulheim
Benaki Museum, Athens
Frieze Sculpture Park
Barmer Anlage, Elliptical Column
World Economic Forum Davos
Solo Show ADAA, New York
Sculpture, Pilane, Gothenburg International Sculpture Exhibition
Miami Artfair
Honorary professorship Kunstakademie Düsseldorf

2014

Heydar Aliyev Art Centre in Baku, Azerbaijan
Drei neue Außenskulpturen, Die Salzburg Foundation, Salzburg
Ravello, Italy
Tont Cragg Walks of Life  MAD. SQ. ART 2014, New York
Tony Cragg Collège de France, Paris
Tony Cragg Skulpturenpark Waldfrieden, Wuppertal
Citizen of Honor of the City of Wuppertal
Honorary doctor of Azerbaijan

2013

National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts
St. Georgen, Wismar, Germany
Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg
Tony Cragg Editionen, Jordan/Seydoux Berlin
Marstrand, Sweden 
La Llotja, Palma de Mallorca
Musée d’Art Moderne St. Etienne
Großer Kulturpreis der Sparkassen-Kulturstiftung Rheinland 2013
Chaire de Création Artistique, Collège de France

2012

Museo d’Arte della Citta di Lugano
The State Hermitage, St Petersburg
British Council featured in China: CAFAM, Beijing / MOCA, Chengdu / HAM, Shanghai
Ernst-Barlach-Haus, Hamburg
Kestner Gesellschaft, Hannover
Tony Cragg with Cass at Exhibtion Rd, London
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany 1st Class (Bundesverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse)
Artist’s Medal of Honor of the Hermitage, Russia
Honorary Fellow of University of the Arts London
Cologne Fine Art Award

2011

Musée du Louvre, Paris
Tony Cragg in 4D, Merano Arte, Meran 
MKM Küppersmühle, Duisburg
It is, it isn’t, Lucca, Italy 
National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh U.K.
Museum Hirose Collection, Tokyo, Japan 
Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas
Alto riconoscimento della Presidenza del Senato della Repubblica Italiana per la genialità del suo lavoro, Italy

2010

Kunstmuseum Boras, Sweden
Tony Cragg in 4D, Ca’Pesaro, Venice
Beijing, Prize for Non-Chinese-Artists 2010
Venezia, invited in the biennial of Architecture 

2009

Beelden aan Zee, Scheveningen
Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe
Museum der Moderne salzburg Austria 
Founding member of the North- Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Science and Arts in Düsseldorf
Honorary doctor of the Royal College of Arts
2009-2013 Rektor of the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf

2008

Tony Cragg versus Franz Messerschmidt, Belvedere Wien
Opening of the sculpture park „Waldfrieden“
Ring of Honor of the City Wuppertal 
Regular Member of the European Academy

2007

Fondacion Cultural Plaza Mulato Gil de Castro, MAVI, Chile
Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg
Museo de Arte de Lima, Pe
Galleria Sculptor, Helsinki
Fondazione Stelline, Milan, Italy
Nordiska Akvarellmuseet Skärhamn, Tjörn, Sweden
Praemium Imperiale Prize for Sculpture, Japan

2006

Centro Arti Visive Pescheria, Pesaro, Italy
Akademie der Künste, Berlin
Centro Recoleta, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2006-2014 Professorship at the Kunstakademie, Düsseldorf

2005

Cass Sculpture Foundation, Goodwood, England
The Central House of Artists, Moscow
Neues Museum Nürnberg
1st Prize for Best Sculpture at the Beijing Biennale
Arco 2005 A.E.C.A. (Asociación Espanola de Criticos de Arte)

2004

Museu Serralves, Porto

2003

Bibliothèque Nationale Francaise, Paris
Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonn
CAC Málaga, Malaga
MACRO Museum of Contemporary Art, Rom

2002

Dunkers Kulturhus, Helsingborg
Commander of the British Empire (CBE)
Piepenbrock Prize for Sculpture

2001

Malmö Konsthall, Malmö, Sweden
Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz, Chemnitz
Shakespeare Prize
Honorary Degree Award of Doctor of the University of Surrey
Honorary Fellowship, John Moores University, Liverpool
Elected to the Akademie der Künste, Berlin
2001-2006 Professorship at the Universität der Künste (UdK), Berlin

2000

Muhka, Antwerp
Glyndebourne, England
Tate Gallery, Liverpool

1999

Von-der-Heydt-Museum Wuppertal
Sara Hildenin Taidemuseo, Tampere
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London
Galerie der Stadt Stuttgart 

1998

Lenbachhaus, München
Tallin Art Hall, Tallin
Commune di Siena, Siena
The Association of Latvian Art Museums, Riga
The Contemporary Art Center of Vilnius, Vilnius

1997

MACBA, Barcelona
National Museum of Contemporary Art Korea, Seoul
Nationalgalerie, Ujazdowskie Castle, Warschau
Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
Biennale Venedig, Venedig
Nationalgalerie Bratislava
Toyota Municipal Museum of Art, Toyota
Nationalgalerie Skopje
Nationalgalerie Sofia
Whitechapel Art Gallery, London

1996

Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris
Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg
Henry Moore Foundation, Halifax
Müczanok Kunsthalle Budapest
Middelheim Sculpture Park, Antwerpen 
Honorary Professorship, Budapest

1995

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid
Nationalgalerie Prag, Valdsteinská jízdarna v Praze, Prag

1994

Kunstverein, St. Gallen
Galleria Civica di Arte Contemporanea, Trento
Musée des Beaux-Arts, Nantes
Royal Academician (RA) London

1993

‘Tides and Time’ commissioned by the town of Bodo, Norway, Archimedes Screw’ commissioned by the town of 's-Hertogenbosch
‘Archimedes Screw’ commissioned by the town of 's-Hertogenbosch
Venice Biennale

1992

IVAM Valencia
Tramway, Glasgow
Centre d'art Contemporain, Kerguéhennec
Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres

1991

Washington Corcoran Museum
Houston Contemporary Art Museum
The Power Plant, Toronto 
Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven
Wiener Secession, Wien
The Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh 

1990

Newport Harbor Art Museum, Newport Beach
The Biennale of Sydney, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
‘Early Forms’ commissioned by the Houston Musem of Fine Arts
‘Early Forms’ commissioned by the Von der Heydt Museum, Wuppertal

1989

Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven
Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf
Von-der-Heydt-Prize

1988

British Representative at the 43rd Venice Biennale, ‘Menzione Speziale’ (Venice Biennale)
Turner Prize
1988 - 2001 Professorship at the Kunstakademie, Düsseldorf

1987

Hayward Gallery, London
Documenta 8, Kassel

1986

University Art Museum, University of California, Berkeley
The Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn
Venice Biennale

1985

ARC, Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
Staatsgalerie Moderner Kunst, München
Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussel
Kestner-Gesellschaft, Hannover

1984

Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebaek, Denmark
The Biennale of Sydney, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney

1983

Kunsthalle Bern

1982

Badischer Kunstverein, Karlsruhe
Le Nouveau Musée (NDLR), Lyon
Rijksmuseum Kröller-Müller, Otterloo
Fifth Triennale India, New Delhi
Documenta 7, Kassel

1981

Musée d'Art et d'Industrie, St. Etienne
Whitechapel Art Gallery, London
Nouveau Musée, Lyon 
Von der Heydt Museum, Wuppertal

1980

Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol
Kunst in Europa na '68, Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst, Gent
Whitechapel Art Gallery, London
Aperto 80, Venice Biennale

1979

Europa-Kunst der 80er Jahre, Stuttgart
First One-Man Exhibition at the Lisson Gallery

1978

1978 - 1989 Taught at the Kunstakademie, Düsseldorf

1977

Begins exhibiting
Moved to Wuppertal

1976

Professeur à L’Ecole des Beaux Arts de Metz

1973-1977

Royal College of Art (MA)

1970-1973

Wimbledon School of Art (BA)

1969-1970

Gloucestershire College of Art, Cheltenham

1966-1968

Lab Technician at the National Rubber Producers Research Association

1949

Born in Liverpool