Hermann Nitsch

This biography of Hermann Nitsch, newly translated into English from the original German, allows us to experience the artist in his own words.

Known for his interdisciplinary practice that encompasses performance, painting, musical composition, and more, Nitsch became a pioneer of Vienna’s avant-garde scene in the 1960s and 1970s, staging radical and controversial performances as part of the Viennese Actionism movement. In an extensive conversation with Danielle Spera, he recounts his family history, early childhood, and the evolution of his artistic practice from his paint- and blood-soaked canvases through to his expansive, sensorial performances of the six-day play. This oral history is complemented by a conversation with Rita Nitsch and the artist’s own writings.

Generously illustrated with archival photography and artwork imagery, Hermann Nitsch: Life and Work provides an immersive look at a singular artist.