Olaf Nicolai

Olaf Nicolai lives and works in Berlin. After studying German language and literature at the University of Leipzig, he has practiced as a visual artist since 1990. Considered one of Germany’s leading artists, Nicolai takes on a range of conceptual themes, from political and cultural critiques to inquiries into human perception. A recurring subject is the aesthetic appropriation of nature by human culture and design, explored through mixed-media sculptures and images. In addition to participating in solo and group exhibitions, Nicolai has shown at documenta X (1997) and documenta 14 (2017), and at the 49th and 51st Venice Biennale (2001 and 2005). For his work In The Woods There Is A Bird… (commissioned by documenta 14), he was awarded the 2017 Karl-Sczuka-Prize for works of radio art.

Documentation