Kurt Philipp

Who is Kurt Philipp?

Kurt Philipp is a prominent Austrian painter.

He was born in Vienna, and got interested in art at a very early age, often drawing on roads and sidewalks of his home district Favoriten.

As a young boy he was fascinated with the everyday life around him and the historical events he was witness to, including the war, and the occupation of Austria. He drew street scenes as well as military hardware. Some of his works covered surfaces of up to 500 square meters, but only survived until the next rain.

Kurt Phillip is best known for his small format, often postcard size, psychologically charged suburban landscapes. He has traveled the world and painted many cities, including Paris, New York City, Salzburg, San Francisco, and his hometown Vienna.

In the 1940s and 1950s he tried himself out in a literary career and as a jazz musician.

In the late 1960s he created a series of monotypes using a technique he developed himself. He continued drawing later on in his career and is well known for his satirical graphic works and etchings.

From 1972 to 1975 he created his first large-scale drawings, and worked with watercolors and gouaches.

Together with fellow artists from Austria he took part in a documentary film titled "Vincent lives", a tribute to the great Vincent van Gogh.