Marc Bauer

Fundamental themes in Marc Bauer's work encompass history, memory, identity, gender, migration, and the intricate interplay between violence, religion, and sexuality. While a significant portion of his work comprises black and white drawings, it also extends to include animation film, ceramics, oil painting, and sculpture.

Biography of Marc Bauer

Marc Bauer was born in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1975. He completed his studies at the Ecole Supérieure d’Arts Visuels Genève (now HEAD) and the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam. Currently, he holds a tenured position as a lecturer at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK).

The artist received the Prix Meret Oppenheim / Swiss Grand Award for Art in 2020. He also received the GASAG Kunstpreis in 2020, the Prix Culturel Manor in Geneva in 2009, and the Swiss Art Award in 2001, 2005, and 2006.

He has exhibited his works in numerous solo exhibitions both in Switzerland and internationally. Marc Bauer's recent solo exhibitions include "Wall Drawing Series: Marc Bauer" at the Menil Drawing Institute in Houston (2023), "The Default Brain" at Galerie Peter Kilchmann in Zurich (2022), "The Truce" at Gilda Lavia Gallery in Rome (2022), and many more.

Bauer's art has also been featured in numerous group exhibitions, including "DISAPPEAR HERE" at Museo Villa dei Cedri in Bellinzona (2023), "Monotypes" at Kunsthalle Zurich (2023), " Le Souffle des Ancêtres" at Congo Biennale in Kinshasa (2022), "The Curse of Smooth Operations" at Impakt Festival in Utrecht (2022), "30 Years Anniversary Exhibition" at Peter Kilchmann in Zurich (2023), and "The Painting Show" at Keteleer Gallery in Antwerp (2022), among others. 

Currently, Marc Bauer lives and works in Berlin and Zurich.

Marc Bauer's Art Style

Bauer's graphic creations are primarily presented in black and white, adopting a simplified aesthetic reminiscent of vintage photographs. In terms of scale, his graphic portfolio exhibits a broad range, spanning from smaller works on paper to expansive images composed of multiple sheets joined together, as well as digital prints created by enlarging his drawings. Additionally, he ventures into colossal wall drawings, directly executed on the wall.

Bauer frequently creates works in series, and his exhibitions are typically conceived as site-specific installations that treat the exhibition space as a comprehensive composition. These installations often incorporate a non-hierarchical arrangement of drawings —mostly unframed—pinned onto the walls. 

In terms of visual aesthetics, Bauer's artworks usually exhibit a dark tone, and the outlines of his figures are frequently obscured. He achieves this effect by employing a hard, thin eraser to gently rub and smudge the graphite and lithographic chalk, creating a sense of depth. This deliberate blurring contributes to the distinctive appearance of Bauer's drawings and also challenges the conventional notion of the line as the defining element in the art of drawing.