source: artnet

Peter Zimmermann (German, b.1956) is a Contemporary Abstract artist known for his blob paintings. Zimmermann was born in Freiburg, Germany, and began his studies at the Akademie der Bildenden Kunste, in Stuttgart, Germany. His medium is typically airbrushing combined with digital arts; he mainly uses programs such as Photoshop to express his unique point of view. Zimmermann gained international prominence with his individualistic paintings. He became famous with his collection entitled Book Covers (1980s), in which he conceptualized the artwork on classic books and art catalogs. This collection was interesting in that Zimmermann was turning art into art. Primary Structures is one of the works in this grouping; this piece is based on a 1966 catalogue for the Minimalist Art exhibition at the Jewish Museum in New York, NY. Zimmerman’s first exhibit was at the Galerie Tanja Grunert in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1981.

Another well-known collection by Zimmermann is the Blob Paintings. The blob paintings are created on a computer, by taking found materials (photographs taken by others) and then abstracting them through Photoshop. Zimmermann then transfers the image to canvas by means of airbrushing, and carefully applies epoxy over the image, creating an Abstract, multi-textured form. While they could be dismissed as merely decorative, the layering of the different mediums draws the eye. Once set, the epoxy resin gives off the appearance of an inner light emanating from within the Abstract form. One of Zimmermann’s well-known blob paintings is entitled Air (2006). In 2002, Zimmermann received a professorship at Kunsthochschule fur Medien, Cologne, Germany. He has also been a guest lecturer at Universitat Luneburg in Luneberg, Germany.

Zimmermann ‘s works have been shown at several museums, including the Columbus Museum of Art in Columbus, OH, the Museum Wiesbaden in Wiesbaden, Germany, the Museum der Moderne Salzburg Rupertinum, in Salzburg, Germany, the Cranbrook Art Museum in Detroit, MI, the New Orleans Museum of Modern Art in New Orleans, LA, and the New York Public Library in New York, NY. He has published two volumes of his work, titled simply Peter Zimmermann. One volume was published in 2007 and one in 2009. Zimmermann lives and works in Cologne, Germany.