Tobias Putrih

Tobias Putrih's practice often involves creating artworks that serve as proposals, maquettes, or models based on existing architectural designs and concepts.

Biography of Tobias Putrih

Tobias Putrih was born in 1972 in Slovenia. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in 1997. From 1997 to 1998, he studied at the Kunstakademie in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Tobias Putrih is a recipient of the prestigious Vordemberge-Gildewart Foundation Award. This accolade highlights his innovative approach and significant impact on the art world.

He has showcased his works extensively in both solo and group exhibitions around the world. His solo shows include "Tobias Putrih: Perceptron" (curated by Igor Španjol) at Moderna Galerija in Ljubljana (2021), "Slight Agitation 1/4" at Fondazione Prada in Milan (2016), "Tobias Putrih, Group-Form" at Galerie Greta Meert in Brussels (2016), "Compressões" at Galeria Luciana Brito in Saõ Paulo (2016), and many more.

Tobias Putrih's works have been featured in group exhibitions held at prestigious galleries and museums, including the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Bucharest, the Museum Haus Konstruktiv in Zurich, the Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova in Ljubljana, Georg Kargl Fine Arts in Vienna, S.M.A.K in Ghent, Queensland Art Gallery in Queensland, Project Space 176 in London, among other esteemed venues.

Currently, the artist lives and wors in Cambridge, MA, USA.

Tobias Putrih's Art Style

Influenced by the visionary works of figures like Buckminster Fuller, Friedrich Kielser, and Yona Friedman, Tobias Putrih delves into twentieth-century utopian ideals and innovative design concepts. Through materially ephemeral projects, he brings to life makeshift architectural models of public spaces, ranging from cinemas to libraries and galleries.

Putrih's temporary environments are crafted from everyday, disposable materials—MDF, cardboard, paper, monofilaments, styrofoam, and scaffolding—often exploring the interplay of intangible elements like soap bubble membranes, light, and shadow. These fractured forms and strategic alterations in floor levels and lighting serve to construct narrative pathways, drawing viewers into immersive experiences within the interiors of his sculptural installations. Through his work, Putrih pushes the boundaries of design, architecture, and sculpture, inviting audiences to contemplate the intersections of form, space, and temporality.