Hendrik Zimmer is an accomplished German visual artist based in Frankfurt. His artistic focus revolves around the exploration of materiality and the creative process, which he describes as one where the works 'emerge as paintings through sculpture." Zimmer creates unique large-format woodcuts that feature clear, geometric shapes and vibrant colors. By assembling abstract forms and objects, he masterfully constructs spaces and gaps, inviting viewers to fill them with their own personal associations. Zimmer employs colored and intricately carved woodblocks to directly print onto coarse, unprimed canvases.
Zimmer draws inspiration from traditional techniques like block printing, a method that originated in Asia during the 10th century and stands as one of the earliest means of reproducing images. For Zimmer, this connection to traditional methods intertwines with his fascination for the contemporary distribution of printed materials such as posters, billboards, and newspapers. Throughout his career, these forms of mass dissemination have played a major element in his artistic practice.
While Zimmer previously engaged with collage, painting, mixed media, and sculpture, he has currently dedicated himself primarily to woodblock printing. In his latest creations, each color field corresponds to a unique printing plate, effectively becoming an individual entity. The exploration of the relationship between painting and sculpture has remained a constant theme for Zimmer since his days as a student. Continually seeking fresh approaches to unite and bridge these disciplines within his own work, he pushes the boundaries of artistic expression.
Zimmer, who graduated from the Städelschule and was once a Master Student of renowned German sculptor Tobias Rehberger, has actively participated in numerous international art fairs. Notable appearances include VOLTA in New York and Basel, POSITIONS Berlin, London Art Fair, Urvanity Art Fair in Madrid, PULSE in Miami Beach, and Art Cologne. Recent solo and duo exhibitions have taken place at Galerie Heike Strelow in Frankfurt, as well as Cerquone Gallery in Madrid and Caracas. Zimmer obtained his MFA (2003-08) from the Academy of Fine Arts at Städelschule, Frankfurt, and pursued earlier studies at the National Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe.