Walter Meierhofer

Born in Salzburg/Austria in 1939 into a famliy of artists I trained as a sculptor and worked as a restorer for several years before starting to experiment and create my own sculptures using wood, stone and bronze. Very early in my career I fell in love with the human form while also increasingly using my art to voice my concern about the immense human impact on our planet. My favourite materials are the famous marbles found around Salzburg (Adnet and Untersberg marbles). Decades ago I discovered local quarries as spectacular backdrops to my outdoor workshops. As a principle, when working with stone, I never use the aid of power tools. All my sculptures, including monumental ones, are exclusively carved by hand, using hammer and chisels only. In preparation for my sculptures I do intensive research, creating series of drawings and model sculptures using both clay and artist quality plasticine.

Sculptors' college, Hallein 1954-1957
Continuous training and intense professional exchange with well-known local artists, including Josef Zenzmaier and Herbert Trapp

March 10 to April 21, 2023: exhibition "Nachtschatten und andere Gewächse", art bv Berchtoldvilla, Salzburg, Austria