Wolfgang Obermair is a German-Austrian artist, curator, and lecturer based in Vienna. His multidisciplinary practice blends conceptual and spacial approaches with a strong interest in sculpture, drawing, performance, DIY culture, and collaborative formats. He studied painting and art education at the Academy of Fine Arts Nuremberg, and completed a one-year scholarship in media art at the Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design. His work has been exhibited internationally in a variety of institutional and independent contexts.
Since over 20 years Obermair is engaged in the independent art scene: From 2001 to 2012, he curated exhibitions for kunstbunker – forum für zeitgenössische kunst in Nuremberg. Between 2012 and 2017, he was a member of the Vienna-based exhibition collective Schneiderei. Since 2017, he co-directs the independent artist-run space hoast with Ekaterina Shapiro-Obermair.
Currently, Obermair teaches at the University of Applied Arts Vienna in the Department of Transmedial Art under Prof. Jakob Lena Knebl.

Born in 1971 in Ebersberg (DE)
Nationality: German/Austrian
lives and works in Vienna

Education
1994–2000 Academy of Fine Arts Nuremberg, painting and art education, Prof. M. Munding, Prof. G. Dollhopf, Meisterschüler, State exam
1998–1999 University of Arts and Design Karlsruhe, Media Art, Prof. D. Kiessling , scholarship Bavarian Ministry of Science and the Arts
1992–1994 Technical University Dresden, art education and geography studies

Grants and Residencies
2023 Federal Ministry of Culture Austria, Artist in Residency program, Tel-Aviv, ISR
2020 Off-Space Grant of the city of Vienna,hoast as one of the 5 best alternative art spaces in 2020, Vienna, AT
2016 Staatsstipendium of the Federal Ministry of Culture Austria
2014–2015 Federal Ministry of Culture Austria, Artist in Residency program, Beijing, CN
2004 DAAD scholarship, Rostov-on-Don, Saint Petersburg, RU2003 Project grant, PVA Medialab, Bridport, UK
2001 Scholarship of the International Summer Academy Salzburg for the classes of Illya and Emilia Kabakov, and Boris Groys, AT
2000 Scholarship of the State of Bayern for Ellen Cantor’s class, International Summer Academy Salzburg, AT
1998–1999 Annual scholarship of the State of Bavaria, Uni. of Arts and Design Karlsruhe, GER
1994 Grant of the city of Nuremberg, study visit within the framework of an exchange program, Charkov, UKR

Exhibitions (since 2007)
2025
Tombola VII, with E. Shapiro-Obermair, ES49, AT
2024
Über das Neue, Belvedere 21, Vienna, AT
2023
Made in China, GalerijaGallery, Ljubljana, SI
TRC, with Peter Fritzenwallner, Kluckyland, Vienna, AT
Open Studio, (Solo), Theartistresidence, Herzliya, ISR
A Hail to Herr Edding, (Solo), White Dwarf, Vienna, AT
Uncanny Valley, Studio Pram, Prague, CZ
2022
Dimensions Variable, (with Peter Fritzenwallner), public space Alt-Hietzing, Vienna, AT
Unchained Goddess, Carbon Age Gallery, Vienna, AT
2021
Bustopia, with Peter Fritzenwallner, Supergaufestival, Salzburg, AT
Taking my Thoughts for a Walk, Dortmunder Kunstverein, Urbane Künste Ruhr, Daihatsu Rooftop Gallery, Dortmund, GER
2020
Dimensions Variable, (with Peter Fritzenwallner), public space Alt-Hietzing, Vienna, AT
Freischwinger, (with Peter Fritzenwallner), public space, NonStopScheiner, Graz
Open Stage, Pferd, Vienna, AT
Durch das Raue zu den Sternen, Galerie 5020, Salzburg, AT
Minus 20degree festival, (with Peter Fritzenwallner), Flachau, AT
2019
BARMINI, (with Ekaterina Shapiro-Obermair), Kluckyland, Vienna, AT
Big screens shatter easily, Oberösterreichischer Kunstverein, Linz, AT
2018
No backup check for trebuchet, Daihatsu Rooftop Gallery at Salzburger Kunstverein, Salzburg, AT
Orte, die nur als Zeichen aus der Ferne gebaut sind. Aus der Nähe haben sie keinen Namen, (with Nathalie Koger), Blickle Raum Spiegelgasse, Vienna, AT
La Collezione Geometrica, Ospizio Giovani Artisti, Rome, IT
responseABILITY, <rotor> Center for Contemporary Art, Graz, AT
Ektoplastik, Akku, Künstlerbund Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart, GER
2017
Echo Point, (with Vasco Costa), hoast, Vienna, AT
Maieutics, In der Kubator des Kabinetts, Fluc, Vienna, AT
Lightness and matter, matter and lightness, Kunstraum Niederösterreich, Vienna, AT
2016
Drawing Attributes, CSA-Space, Vancouver, CA
Visible side when installed (with Vasco Costa), Skaftfell Bookshop-Projectspace, Seydisfjördur, IS
Ногами в воде, головой в облаках, Gallery Здесь на Таганке, Moscow, RU
2015
Maniac, Reflector, Vienna, AT
Filmteich, (Solo), Vesch, Vienna, AT
Canvas, Gallery Peitner-Lichtenfels, Vienna, AT
H-A-L-F-A-M-A-N, with Jagrut Raval, AOTU, Beijing, CN
2014
From inner to outer shadow, Austrian Cultural Forum, Istanbul, TR
Ohne Titel, (Solo), O.T., Vienna, AT
Journal of (Dis)Satisfactions, a project by Nataša Bodrožić and Ludwig Kittinger, Gallery Baumana, Prag, CZ
2013
Group Exhibition, Ve.Sch, Vienna, AT
In-tenções, espaço Montepio, Porto, PT
Olho de Peixe, (with Vasco Costa), AISCA, Viana do Castelo, PT
2012
Critical Alliances, HDLU, Zagreb, KR
Gefälschte Sonne, Schneiderei, Vienna, AT
pt. 1, pt.2, pt3, a collaborative project with Vasco Costa, Schneiderei, Vienna, AT
Aufruf zur Reduktion! (in effigie), Expedithalle der ehem. Ankerbrotfabrik, Vienna, AT
Pingo ergo sum, Kunsthalle Rostock (GER), Ars Electronica Center Linz, AT
2011
Phase 0, BFA – Bureau für Angelegenheiten, Vienna, AT
Future Garden, kunstbunker-forum für zeitgenössische kunst, Nuremberg, GER
Antidepressiva, Gallery Peitner-Lichtenfels, Vienna, AT
Tuesday evening, edition release, Ve.Sch, Vienna, AT
Tuesday evening, Ve.Sch, Vienna; A show is a show is a show, Cripta747, Torino, IT
Connected, Gallery Lisi Hämmerle, Bregenz, AT
Die Fotografie in Referenz..., curated by Martin Vesely, Fotohof Salzburg, AT
Parallel Actions 2, (Solo), Gallery Na Vspolnom, Moscow, RU
The Days of This Society Are Numbered, a contribution to Hugo Canoilas project Mural Newspaper, Abrons Arts Center NY, USA
2010
BEETHOVEN:·KK4+5·GIL. and others, with Ekaterina Shapiro-Obermair, curated by Ludwig Kittinger & Fernando Mesquita, Ve.Sch, Vienna, AT
Appartment Exhibition. Vienna Entourage, ArtRaum, Moscow, RU
Aquarellhappening 2000–2009, Tyrolean State Museum, Innsbruck (Catalog), AT
Visual Mini Bar, with Ekaterina Shapiro-Obermair, within the exhibition Polygrades by Kathi Hofer, Ve.Sch, Vienna, AT
2009
Never Odd or Evil, Fenster C, Vienna, AT, (Catalog)
Paperworks, Area 53, Vienna, AT
2008
Mental Rotations, with Ekaterina Shapiro-Obermair, SWINGR, Vienna, AT
Fluxus East Symposium, 4:33 Generation Generali, with Ekaterina Shapiro-Obermair and Tamas St. Auby, Museum Ludwig, Budapest, HU
2007
Operation Mors, with Ekaterina Shapiro-Obermair, V. Biennial of Contemporary Graphic Arts, Novosibirsk, RU, (Catalog)

Curatorial work
since 2017
hoast, Vienna, AT
Over 70 exhibition projects in collaboration with Ekaterina Shapiro-Obermair
2012 – 2017
Schneiderei, Vienna, AT
Numerous exhibition projects for the art association seeyounextthursday in the project space Schneiderei
2000 – 2012
kunstbunker – forum for contemporary art, Nuremberg, DE
Curation of various international exhibitions, including:
2012
Dieter Kiessling / gelborange yellow orange orangé jaune, curated with H. Gabler
2007
Lutz Mommartz – The Authentic as Art, Mommartz Films 1967–2006
Whitby Weekender, Ellen Cantor and John Cussans
2006
Balazs Beöty, Zsolt Mesterhazy, Rolland Peresylenyi, Pál Gerber, IPUT (Tamás St. Auby),
curated with H. Gabler 
Out of the blue and into the black or Double Ball, curated with H. Gabler
2005
Blue Sky – White Ceiling. James Benning: Ten Skies, installation for Blaue Nacht, curated with H. Gabler
2004
Sergey Bratkov – People in the Bunker, curated with E. Shapiro-Obermair
Plafond blanc / eaux d’artifice – Kenneth Anger, installation for Blaue Nacht, curated with H. Gabler
2003
JCJ Vanderheyden, curated with H. Gabler
Feng Mengbo – phantom tales, installation for Blaue Nacht, web project commissioned by Dia Art Foundation NY, curated with H. Gabler
2001
Ellen Cantor – Video and Drawings 1996–2001

Individual curatorial projects
2022
Sfumato, Kargl Permanent, Vienna, AT
2019
With View to the Sea, curation of a group exhibition with Austrian artists at the Museum of Western and Oriental Art, Odesa, UKR
since 2017
Founding member of the Viennese art space hoast
2012 - 2017
Member and coordinator of different projects for the Viennese based alternative space Schneiderei
2010
Interpolare, group exhibition (in cooperation with Ekaterina Shapiro-Obermair) with Russian artists, amongst others: Timofey Caraffa-Corbut, Konstantin Grouss, Andrey Kuzkin, Evgenia Kuznezova, Alexander Lysov, Alexander Povzner, Arseniy Zhilyaev, Maxim Smirennomudrenskiy, Ve.Sch, Vienna, AT
2008
Initiation of the project space Kunstbunker| Hintereingang (in cooperation with Ekaterina Shaipiro-Obermair), Seria of exhibitions, …gelegentlich DJ with Patrick Anthofer, Kathi Hofer, Michel Kral, Anna Ceeh, Franz Pomassl, Kunstbunker, Nürnberg, GER, 
2007
If Chemicals Enter Your Eyes, Wash Thoroughly With Clear Running Water, official Austrian contribution for the V. Biennial of Contemporary Graphic Arts (in cooperation with Ekaterina Shaipiro-Obermair), Novosibirsk State Art Museum, RU

Curatorial projects in the field of architecture
2009/2010
The urban environment mirror and mediator of radicalisation? Design and curatorial tasks for a travelling exhibition based on a research project of the University of Manchester by Ralf Brand, in cooperation with the architect Andrea Börner. The exhibition was shown at: Royal United Services Institute, London, UK; Zuiderkerk, Amsterdam, NL; Manchester Architecture Research Centre, UK; University of Exeter, UK; Suicide Circus, Berlin, BRD; Architruck, Manchester Architecture and Design Festival, UK; Lebanese American University, Sheikh Zayed Hall, Beirut, LIB; PLACE, Architecture and Built Environment Centre for Northern Ireland, Belfast, UK

Publications
2022
Bustopia, Magazine, with Peter Fritzenwallner
2019
With view to the Sea, exhibition Catalog
2017
Ektoplastik, for the Künstlerbund Baden-Württemberg
2014
Olho de Peix, with Vasco Costa
2008
Das große Moskau, das es niemals gab (The Great Moscow, that Never Was), Buildings of the Soviet avant-garde in contemporary Moscow, Ekaterina Shapiro-Obermair, Wolfgang Obermair [Ed.] SCHLEBRUEGGE.EDITOR, ISBN: 978-3-85160-137-4

Wolfgang Obermair Dresdner Strasse 46/10 1200 Vienna / Austria