Otto Piene (1928, Bad Laasphe, Germany – 2014, Berlin, Germany) was a German artist and a pioneering figure in kinetic and media art, best known as co-founder of the ZERO avant-garde group alongside Heinz Mack and Günther Uecker. A visionary of light and motion, Piene explored the intersection of art, technology, and perception, declaring: “Light is my medium.”
Born in Bad Laasphe, Piene studied at the Academy of Art in Munich before moving to the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf in the late 1950s. There, he co-founded Group ZERO, an international movement seeking to redefine art after World War II through experimentation with light, movement, and new materials. His early works explored the effects of kinetic structures, light projections, and air as artistic mediums.
In 1968, Piene became the first fellow of the MIT Center for Advanced Visual Studies (CAVS), where he collaborated with engineers and scientists to integrate technological innovation into large-scale artworks. From 1974 to 1993, he served as director of CAVS, fostering international collaboration on projects that merged art, science, and technology. Among his notable projects is Centerbeam (1977), a massive outdoor installation created with twenty-two artists and teams of scientists, exemplifying his commitment to collective creation and interdisciplinary practice.
Throughout his career, Piene’s work focused on engaging the viewer through dynamic visual phenomena, from light sculptures and projections to large-scale environmental installations. His explorations in media and kinetic art have influenced generations of artists working with light, space, and interactive technologies.
Piene’s works are held in major international collections, including The Museum of Modern Art, New York; Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo; Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; and Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris. He died in 2014 in Berlin, Germany, on his way to the opening of his Sky Art event at the Neue Nationalgalerie.
For information on available works by the artist, please contact the gallery.