Friedrich Zettl

Meet Friedrich Zettl: Bridging Western and Eastern Aesthetics in Art

Friedrich Zettl, an Austrian artist, creates captivating paintings, graphic art, and calligraphy that seamlessly blend Western and Eastern aesthetics. His artistic journey began with Western painting, but a profound passion for Chinese culture and art led him to explore new horizons.

Education and Artistic Development

From 1978 to 1985, Zettl studied Sinology and Chinese painting at the prestigious Academy in Beijing. During this period, he wrote his dissertation on a specific aspect of Chinese painting, deepening his knowledge and practice of this ancient art form. Before his immersion in Chinese art, Zettl exhibited his expressionist oil paintings across Europe. However, his exposure to traditional Chinese painting techniques and philosophy transformed his artistic approach, infusing his work with Asian thinking and aesthetics.

Artistic Style and Techniques

Zettl's art is characterized by its unique fusion of Western and Eastern elements. His brushwork and compositions are heavily influenced by the techniques and philosophy of Chinese calligraphy. Primarily working on paper, he employs fine inks and has developed his own techniques that blend Western media ...

Zettl started painting as an autodidact. After he began his studies in Sinology he was the first European student since the Cultural Revolution to study at the Central Art Academy in Beijing (中央美术学院 CAFA).

He focused on Chinese painting, calligraphy, and seal cutting arts. He wrote his dissertation on one aspect of Chinese painting (freehand brush work - 写意画). Decades of intensive preoccupation with traditional Chinese theories of painting, his engagement with Buddhism and Zen Buddhism have shaped his work ever since.

2024 Group Exhibition Imaginarium, Sao Paolo
2024 Group Exhibition Boomer Gallery, London
2022 Group Exhibition: Hong Art Museum Project 2022, Chongqing, China
2018 Solo exhibition: Schiff Gallery, Wien
1995 Kunstraum, Wien, together with the Japanese artist Chiaki Genba
1993 Solo exhibition: Association of Municipalities Herrstein, Deutschland
1992 Solo exhibition: Association of Municipalities Birkenfeld, Deutschland
1990 Solo exhibition: Galerie l`Aingle Aigu, Bruxelles
1989 Solo exhibition: Kulisse, Wien
1988 Solo exhibition: Galerie im Presshaus, Wien
1987 Solo exhibition: BAWAG, Wien
1986 Solo exhibition: (UN headquarters in Vienna). International School, Wien
1984 Solo exhibition: UNO, Beijing
1983 Academy of Fine Arts, Bejing, together with Maria Fang
1982 Solo exhibition: Café Central, Wien
1982 Solo exhibition: Academy of Fine Arts, Bejing
1980 Solo exhibition: Galerie ERGO, Wien
1979 Group exhibition Galerie ERGO, Wien
1978 Solo exhibition: Austrian Embassy in Beijing
1976 Galerie Bona Mente, Wien, together with Klaus Weber