A Journey Through Form and Material
Born in Rostock, Germany, Peter Gnass is a multifaceted artist whose practice spans the disciplines of sculpture, painting, printmaking, and photography. After studying at the Lerchenfeld Academy of Fine Arts in Hamburg, he immigrated to Canada in 1957 to continue his education at the École des beaux-arts de Montréal. His early career saw a significant focus on printmaking, but by 1966, his artistic direction shifted toward sculpture. During this formative period, he worked with materials such as metal, resin, and plexiglass, developing series like Lumenstructure and Topolog. His sculptural work has been exhibited in various international locations, including the Musée d'art moderne de la Ville de Paris, the Biennale de Middelheim in Belgium, and the Salon Art 3’72 in Basel, Switzerland.
Evolution of Series and Installations
Gnass's career is marked by several distinct thematic series. In 1976, he introduced the Progression series, which included an imposing installation for the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal composed of aluminum tubes and neon. This was followed in 1978 by the Projections series, which gained recognition in France and earned him the Prix de la sculpture at the XXVe Salon de Montrouge. His work also includes a massive stainless steel mural located at the LaSalle station of the Montreal metro. Between 1990 and 2000, his installations often drew upon themes of sea voyages, a period during which he completed three Atlantic crossings on a sailboat he built himself. Later in his career, he began a series synthesizing his previous work through photography and drawing, such as Atelier Barjols and Step it up.
Questions & Answers
In which historical period did Peter Gnass work?
Peter Gnass worked in the Modern period. The period situates the artist's activity in history.
Where can I see Peter Gnass's artworks arranged by atmosphere?
Peter Gnass's works can be browsed by mood on the artist's Mood Room page, which arranges the artworks by their recorded moods.
How can I see every artwork made by Peter Gnass?
Every work by Peter Gnass on this website can be browsed from the artist's All Artworks page.
In which movements did Peter Gnass work?
The movements Peter Gnass worked in can be seen on the artist's All Movements page, which groups the artworks by movement.
