Martin C. Herbst is an Austrian painter, whose work focuses on an elaborate reevaluation of art historical themes and theories of classical portraiture and human figures. His "subjects" are individual but at the same time portray the best work of their epochs. The traditional intent to display the distinctive likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person is combined with witty and often unexpected forms of representation.Faces appear on spheres and look like caged moonfaces. They are distorted when painted  on curved panels, but look "normal" if the viewer perceives them from a certain point of view. Or they are painted very traditional, but exist in multiple versions.

His virtuosic, often monumental figurative paintings and objects appear paradoxically, at times cool, distant, mediated as well as present and vivid. Herbst carefully avoids narration or any illustrative visual discourse, while convincingly exploiting his potential as animpressive colourist.

 

Education

1989: Hochschule Mozarteum, Salzburg: magister artium, class of painting

 

 

Solo Exhibitions

 

2016   Eye candy, Galerie Le Royer, Montreal, Canada (upcoming)

2015   WUNDERKAMMER, Várfok Galéria, Budapest, Hungary

            Martijn van Wenen, Wanrooij Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

2014   take my eyes, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, Canada

            afterimage, Juan Ruiz Gallery, Miami, USA

2013   Der Schöne Schein; GPL contemporary, Vienna, Austria

            Wahre Illusion; Fischerplatzgalerie, Ulm, Deutschland

            Martin C. Herbst, Boloix Fine Arts, Ketchum/Idaho, USA

2012   strange days, Jacob Karpio Gallery, San José, Costa Rica

            Vom Sein und Schein der Welt, Várfok Galéria, Budapest, Hungary

2011   metamorphosis, Mark Hachem Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon

            Precious, Mark Hachem Gallery, Paris, France

2010   Traces, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, Canada 

            garden of delights ,Fischerplatzgalerie, Ulm, Germany

            metamorphosen,T-40 Galerie, Düsseldorf, Germany

2009   most már dereng, Várfok Galéria, Budapest, Hungary

            Ariodante, Mike Weiss Gallery, New York, NY

2007   Speculum-Spectaculum, MITO, Barcelona, Spain

            Das Archiv der Blicke – Paintings on Aluminium, Fischerplatzgalerie, Ulm, Germany

            The Presence of Memory/az emlékezet jelene, Várfok 

            Inspired (by), Leonhard Ruethmueller Contemporary

2006   Pontormo, Rudolf Budja Galerie / Artmosphere, Graz, 

2005   Angelus und Pomona, Rudolf Budja Galerie / Angelus, Rudolf Budja Galerie /                                           Artmosphere, Vienna, 

2003   Faces – Surfaces, Artmosphere Vienna, Austria

 

 

Group Exhibitions

​

2016   störpunkt, Galerie für Gegenwartskunst, München: half a pound of art

2015   Várfok Galéria, Budapest, Hungary: Varfok Gallery´s 25th Anniversary Exhibition

            Várnegyed Gallery, Budapest, Hungary: Várfok 25  – a selection from 25 private                                       contemporary art collections

            Juan Ruiz Galeria, Miami, USA: up with diversity!                                 

            Mana Contemporary, New York: Here’s Looking Back at You: Images of Woman                                       Anthony Brunelli Fine Arts, Binghampton NY, USA: Eleven Years

            Boloix Fine Arts, Ketchum/Idaho: summer exhibition

            Galerie LeRoyer, Montreal: summer collective

            Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, Canada: Summer 

            Anthony Brunelli Fine Arts, Binghampton NY, USA: Palm Springs Fine Art Fair

            Wanrooij Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: AAF Brussels

            Wanrooij Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: AAF London

            Fischerplatzgalerie, Ulm, Germany: Art Karlsruhe 2015

            Wanrooij Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Art Miami New York

            Wanrooij Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Art Silicon Valley

            Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, Canada: ArtFair Köln

            Várfok Galéria, Budapest, Hungary: Art Market Budapest

            Anthony Brunelli Fine Arts, Binghampton NY, USA: Context Art Miami

            Jacob Karpio Gallery, Bogotá: Scope Miami                                 

2014   Wanrooij Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: opening Amsterdam 2014

            Fischerplatzgalerie Ulm, Germany: 30 Jahre Fischerplatzgalerie

            Wanrooij Gallery, Arnheim, The Netherlands: Realisme 14 (Amsterdam)
            Juan Ruiz Galeria, Miami, USA: art wynwood 

            Wanrooij Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands                                          

            Wanrooij Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: AAF New York

            Wanrooij Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: AAF Amsterdam

            Wanrooij Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Scope Miami                        

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: Scope Miami

            Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, Canada: Art Toronto

            Wanrooij Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Hamburg

2013   Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, Canada: Winter Solstice Painting Extravaganza

            CAP-Exhibition Space Kuwait: Body Variances, Five European Sculptors

            Kunst Palais Liechtenstein: GrauRand

            Várfok Galéria, Budapest, Hungary: Diving Lines

            collective exhibition, Mark Hachem Gallery, Beirut, Lebanon
           winter group show, Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto fairs:

            Wanrooij Gallery, Arnheim, The Netherlands: Realisme 13 (Amsterdam)

            Wanrooij Gallery, Arnheim, The Netherlands: Art at                                                                                         the Warehouse (Rotterdam)                                           

            Juan Ruiz Galeria, Miami, USA: art wynwood                                        

            Wanrooij Gallery, Arnheim, The Netherlands: Art 2013 (Utrecht)

            Wanrooij Gallery, Arnheim, The Netherlands: SCOPE Basel

            Juan Ruiz Galeria, Miami, USA: Art Miami

2012   Claire Oliver Gallery, New York: Beyond Bling, The artist as Jeweler

            GPL Contemporary, Wien: Halali: Die Jagd nach dem Zeitgenössischen

            Fischerplatzgalerie, Ulm: schwarzweiß weißschwarz

            Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto: Summer Group Show (with Jean-Marie Delavalle

            and Michel Goulet

            REÖK, Szeged:Kontrazstok vonzásában / attracted by contrasts

            Fischerplatz Galerie, Ulm: WinterARTigkeiten

            Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto: Armory show, New York

            Juan Ruiz Galeria, Maracaibo, Venezuela: art palm beach 

            Mauger Modern London: India Art fair

            Juan Ruiz Galeria, Maracaibo, Venezuela: art wynwood

            Fabian & Claude Walter Galerie, Zürich, Switzerland: Scope Basel

            Juan Ruiz Galeria, Maracaibo, Venezuela: FIA Caracas 

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: ARTBO, Bogota

            Juan Ruiz Galeria, Maracaibo, Venezuela: Art Miami

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: Scope Miami

            Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto: Art Miami

            Várfok Galéria, Budapest, Hungary: Art Market Budapest

2011   Die Galerie, Frankfurt am Main: Figurative Kunst aus Österreich

            Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto: Bakers Dozen

            Fabian & Claude Walter Galerie, Zürich, Switzerland: TWENTY – FIVE

            T-40, Düsseldorf, Germany: 7th anniversary

            Fischerplatzgalerie Ulm: SommerARTigkeiten

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: Jacob Karpio Who

            dvorac sec contemporary, Prague: No borders – Appeal to heaven

            Mark Hachem Beirut: Epilogue

            Juan Ruiz Galeria, Maracaibo, Venezuela: art palm beach

            Mauger Modern London: London Art Fair

            Juan Ruiz Galeria, Maracaibo, Venezuela: Scope New York

            Mauger Modern London: Scope New York

            Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto: Art Chicago

            Juan Ruiz Galeria, Maracaibo, Venezuela: FIA Caracas 

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: Scope Basel

            Fabian & Claude Walter Galerie, Zürich, Switzerland: Scope Basel

            Mauger Modern London: KIAF, Korea

            Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto: Art Toronto (sculpturfield)

            Fabian & Claude Walter Galerie, Zürich, Switzerland: Kunst Zürich

            Regis Krampf Gallery New York: Istanbul Contemporary

            Juan Ruiz Galeria, Maracaibo, Venezuela: Art Miami

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: Scope Miami

2010   Várfok Galéria, Budapest: Crescendo

            Life as a Legend: Marilyn Monroe - MOCA - Museum of Contemporary Art                                                 Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL

            GPL Contemporary, Wien: neue und etablierte Positionen

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: Miami International Fair

            Fischerplatzgalerie, Ulm, Germany: Art Karlsruhe 

            Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, Canada: Art Chicago 

            Juan Ruiz Galeria, Maracaibo, Venezuela: FIA, Caracas

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: Scope Basel

            Fabian&Claude Walter Galerie Zürich: Scope Basel

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: ARTBO, Bogota

            Juan Ruiz Galeria, Maracaibo, Venezuela: ARTBO, Bogota

            Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, Canada: Art Toronto

            Fabian&Claude Walter Galerie Zürich: Kunst Zürich

            Regis Krampf Gallery New York: Istanbul Contemporary

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: SCOPE Miami

            Christopher Cutts Gallery, Toronto, Canada: SCOPE Miami

            Juan Ruiz Galeria, Maracaibo, Venezuela:Art Miami

2009   Fabian&Claude Walter Galerie Zürich: The Beautiful Painting Show

            T-40 Galerie, Düsseldorf: 5th Anniversary

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: Los Angeles Art Show 

            Mike Weiss Gallery, N.Y.: Scope New York

            Mike Weiss Gallery, N.Y.: Chicago Art Fair

            Fabian&Claude Walter Galerie Zürich: Scope Basel

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: Scope Basel

            Várfok Galéria, Budapest: Art Vilnius

            MITO, Barcelona, Arte Santander

            Fischerplatzgalerie Ulm: Art Bodensee

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: Artbo, Bogota

            Várfok Galéria, Budapest, Hungary: Budapest Art Fair

2008   Galerie Bailly Contemporain,  Paris: phobea

            SPUR projects, Portola Valley, CA

            Five Year Anniversary Show, Mike Weiss Gallery, New York, NY

            Várfok Galéria, Budapest, Hungary: MIS-EN ABYME (KÉP A KÉPBEN)  

            Fischerplatzgalerie, Ulm, Germany: Ganz schön ART-ig: LECKERBISSEN III

            T-40 Galerie, Düsseldorf: Summer Jam

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: Scope Miami

            MITO,Barcelona, Spain: Art Madrid

            Fischerplatzgalerie, Ulm, Germany: Art Karlsruhe

            Mike Weiss Gallery, N.Y.: Scope N.Y.

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: Art Brussels

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: Scope Basel

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: Balelatina Basel

            Fabian&Claude Walter Galerie Zürich: Scope Basel

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: Scope Hamptons

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: Artbo, Bogota International Art Fair                                         MITO, Barcelona, Spain : Scope London

            Fischerplatzgalerie, Ulm, Germany:10. Art International Zürich

            Galerie Bailly Contemporain Show Off , Paris

            Galerie von Braunbehrens, München, Germany: Kunst Zürich

            Várfok Galéria, Budapest, Hungary: Budapest Art Fair

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: Scope Miami

            Mike Weiss Gallery, N.Y.: Scope Miami

2007   Leonhard Ruethmueller Contemporary, Basel, Switzerland: Art Miami

            Leonhard Ruethmueller Contemporary, Basel, Switzerland: palmbeach3

            Fischerplatzgalerie,Ulm,Germany: schwarzweiß- weißschwarz-Uecker Chillida,Venet u.a. 

            Fischerplatzgalerie, Ulm, Germany: Art Karlsruhe

            Várfok Galéria, Budapest, Hungary: real-irreal

            KunstHausWien, Vienna, Austria: Malerei der Gegenwart:Zurück zur Figur

            Dayton Art Institute, Ohio

            Huntington Museum of Art, WV

            Sioux City Art Center, Iowa

            Galerie von Braunbehrens, München, Germany: KIAF, Seoul

            Leonhard Ruethmueller Contemporary, Basel, Switzerland: Art Moscow

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: arteBA, Buenos Aires

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: Scope Basel

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: Artbo 2007, Bogota

            Leonhard Ruethmueller Contemporary, Basel, Switzerland: modern 07, München

            Leonhard Ruethmueller Contemporary, Basel, Switzerland selection 07, Moskau

            Fischerplatzgalerie,Ulm,Germany: ART.FAIR 21, Köln

            Várfok Galéria, Budapest, Hungary: Cologne Fine Art, Köln

            MITO,Barcelona, Spain: arte Lisboa, Portugal

            Várfok Galéria, Budapest, Hungary: Art.Fair, Budapest

            Jacob Karpio Galeria, San José, Costa Rica: Art Basel Miami Beach

2006   MITO,Barcelona, Spain CAP-I-CUA

            Rudolf Budja Galerie/ Artmosphere Salzburg: AMADEUS – MADEUSA

            Boca Raton Museum of Art, FL, USA: Life as a Legend - Marilyn Monroe

            Rudolf Budja Galerie/ Artmosphere Wien: Art Miami

            Rudolf Budja Galerie/ Artmosphere Wien: palmbeach3

            Rudolf Budja Galerie/ Artmosphere Wien: 10th International Art Fair - Art Moscow

            Leonhard Ruethmueller Contemporary, Basel, Switzerland: art.fair, Köln

            Várfok Galéria, Budapest, Hungary: plug - contemporary art show Budapest

2005   Rudolf Budja Galerie / Artmosphere – Salzburg: “Beauty 

            Galerie Kulterer/Schloß Wolfsberg /Austria “Wiesionen - Zeitkunst“

            Galleria Juris and Perl, Venice, Italy

            Centro Cultural de la Villa Madrid; Claustro de Exposiciones del Palacio Provincial de                             Cádiz; “marilyn, una vida de leyenda“

2004   Rudolf Budja Galerie / Artmosphere Salzburg "Love" 

            Reales Atarazanes de Valencia – Spain; Vakko Beyoglu Art Gallery, Istanbul,                                               “marilyn, una vida de leyenda”

2003   Artmosphere Vienna "The Last Supper"

           "Marilyn. The life of a legend", County Hall Gallery, Galerie Levi, Hamburg, Germany

2001   Christine König Galerie, Vienna: "Ich Tarzan – Du felix Austria?"

 

 

Bibliography

 

2010   Mozartkugel in einem verspiegeltem Menschenbild, Roland Mayer, 31.1.2010 ,Neu                                 Ulmer Zeitung

            Bilder der Tochter, Käppeler, SWP, 15.2.2010

2008   "Lincoln Center Through these eyes",The Metro, March 28-30, 2008

            Ayers, Robert. “ Scoping out Scope”, ARTINFO, March, 2008

            200799 Faces, Austria

2007   „Martin C. Herbst, speculum spectaculum (mirror miracles)“, Florian Steininger,                                       Vernissage, Juni 2007

            „speculum sprectaculum“ de Martin C. Herbst, Art Neutre, 3.5.2007

            „Die Aura der Augen“, Roland Mayer, Neu Ulmer Zeitung

            „Martin C. Herbst bei Ruethmueller“, Annemarie Maag, MZ

2006   speculum-spectaculum, published by MITO, Barcelona, 2006

            Cap-I-Cua, published by MITO, Barcelona, 2006

2005   angelus, published by Rudolph Budja Galerie / Artmosphere, Vienna 2005

            „(Wie) neu geboren“, Hartwig Bischof, Die Furche, 10.3.2005

            „Engel fahren nicht mit dem Fahrrad“, Claudia Aigner, Wiener Zeitung, 18.3.2005

            „Martin C. Herbst, Redierunt angeli oder there must be an angel, playing with my                                   heart“, Günter Holler-Schuster, Vernissage

2004   Madonna in Art, published by Chacer Press, London, 2004

2003   Faces, published by Artmosphere, Vienna 2003 

            Marilyn Monroe: Life of a Legend, published by Galerie Levy, Hamburg, 2003

            1996M.C. Herbst,  published by Galerie Gerlich, Salzburg 1996