Matthias Garff (b.1986)
Matthias Garff was born in Solothurn, Switzerland,
in 1986. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Dresden. Garff is a German
artist whose work explores the animal world and our relationship with nature.
He constructs his sculptures from found objects and everyday items, imbuing
them with an unexpected materiality that is humorous, accessible, and of
fragile beauty. His works are included in prominent collections, such as that
of the German Bundestag. In 2019, he created numerous animal figures for the
new Children’s World at the Jewish Museum Berlin.
He has exhibited widely, including solo exhibitions at REFUGIUM at Jenaer Kunstverein, Jena Botanical Garden, Jena (2024); BACK_Y, Taipei (2024); Galerie Tammen, Berlin (2023); and Museum der Bildenden Künste, Leipzig (2021). His earlier solo shows include Conference of the Animals at Deutsche Werkstätten Hellerau, Dresden (2018) and Kleine Insektenschau at Josef Filipp Galerie, Leipzig (2016). He has also participated in group exhibitions such as Early Warning System at the Academy of Fine Arts Warsaw, Poland (2024), and Annual Exhibition at Darmstadt Secession, Darmstadt (2016).