Statement / Bio
Pedro Wirz’s oeuvre is predominantly sculptural or installation-based. This set of four differently colored silicone masks titled “New York Masks (after Josephine)” take its inspiration from a chance encounter that occurred between Pedro Wirz and a notebook of drawings he found in the streets of New York during his residency at RU in 2014. The title refers to the author of the randomly found notebook, Josephine (Smith), and the masks refer directly to drawings from the notebook that the artist found. In his practice, Pedro Wirz explores strategies of collectiveness with both humor and boldness often as a result of sets of instructions. The construction of networks and systems of communications are core to his artistic practice as are cooperative work and collaborative thoughts where the notion of authorship does not prevail.
RU Alum, Pedro Wirz, has shown his work in exhibitions around the world including at Galerie Nagel Draxler,Berlin, Kunsthalle Langethal, CH, Centre Culturel Suisse, Paris,, Instituto Tomie Ohtake, São Paulo, Kunsthalle Basel , Künstlerhaus Stuttgart , Dortmunder Kunstverein , Palais de Tokyo in Paris, Centro Cultural São Paulo . He is represented by Galerie Mendes&Wood, São Paulo and Kai Matsumiya Gallery, New York. Awards and scholarships include ProHelvetia Cahiers d‘Artistes (2018), Young Academy, Akademie der Künste, Berlin (2017) and Artist in Residence, Swiss Institute Rome, Rome (2016).
Artist Website: www.pedrowirz.com