Wolfgang Binding (born 1937 in

Munich Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...

) is a German sculptor and graphic artist.

Biography

Binding was born in Munich but grew up in

Cologne Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western States of Germany, state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 m ...

. After graduating from high school in 1957, he completed an apprenticeship as a sculptor and

stonemason Stonemasonry or stonecraft is the creation of buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone as the primary material. It is one of the oldest activities and professions in human history. Many of the long-lasting, ancient shelters, temples, mo ...

at Cologne's Dombauhütte, and then studied sculpture at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. Between 1959 and 1963, he was a master student of Zoltan Székessy. In 1963, a scholarship enabled him to spend two years abroad in

Alexandria Alexandria ( or ; ar, ٱلْإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةُ ; grc-gre, Αλεξάνδρεια, Alexándria) is the second largest city in Egypt, and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. Founded in by Alexander the Great, Alexandria ...

and

Cairo Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world and the Middle East: The Greater Cairo metro ...

. He was assistant to

Elmar Hillebrand Elmar Hillebrand (11 October 1925, Cologne8 January 2016, Cologne) was a German sculptor., WDR, 11. Januar 2016 Life and education After graduating from high school at Apostelgymnasium (1943) and then doing military service and being a prisoner ...

between 1965 and 1975. After habilitating in sculpture in 1973, he became a visiting professor at Northern Michigan University, and then a full professor of sculpture at

RWTH Aachen University RWTH Aachen University (), also known as North Rhine-Westphalia Technical University of Aachen, Rhine-Westphalia Technical University of Aachen, Technical University of Aachen, University of Aachen, or ''Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hoch ...

. He retired in 1993. Binding's most notable works comprise sculptures, fountains and monuments in several cities in Germany and Switzerland. His sculptures mostly depict animals or people in natural poses. For the World Equestrian Games 2006 in Aachen, he created the large sculpture ''Playing Horses''. A large sculpture representing a goat was bought by the

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, often referred to as The Guggenheim, is an art museum at 1071 Fifth Avenue on the corner of East 89th Street on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. It is the permanent home of a continuously exp ...

in New York City. In addition to his sculptures, Binding regularly exhibits his graphics and drawings. Binding's daughter Stephanie also studied sculpture and graphic arts. The art historian

Günther Binding Günther Binding (born 6 March 1936) is a German art historian and retired professor of art history and urban conservation at the University of Cologne. Life Born in Koblenz, Binding, brother of the later sculptor Wolfgang Binding and uncle o ...

is Wolfgang Binding's brother.

Selected works

* Heiliger Georg ''(St. George)'', Aachen, 1980 * Ponyführerin ''(Horse-handler)'', Aachen Zoo, 1983 * Spiel- und Erlebnisbrunnen ''(Play and adventure fountain)'', Bergheim, 1984 * Eselreiterin ''(Donkey rider)'', Stolberg, 1986 * Entenfänger ''(Duck catcher)'', Aachen Zoo, 1986 * Kuhjunge schiebt Kuh ''(Boy pushes cow)'', Aachen-Eilendorf, 1988 * Spielende Pferde ''(Playing horses)'', Aachen, 2006Wolfgang Binding: Werkübersicht 1999 – 2002 ''(Works 1999 – 2002)'', Verlag Depelmann, Langenhagen, 2003

Gallery

File:Skulptur St. Georg, Aachen (neuer Standort).jpg, St. George File:Ponyführerin.JPG, Horse-handler File:Spiel- und Erlebnisbrunnen in Bergheim.jpg, Play and adventure fountain File:Eselreiterin.JPG, Donkey rider File:Entenfänger.JPG, Duck catcher File:Kuhschieben.JPG, Boy pushes cow File:Aachen Reit-WM Skulptur.jpg, Playing horses

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Binding, Wolfgang 1937 births German male sculptors Artists from Munich Kunstakademie Düsseldorf alumni Living people