German Pop Art artist Heiner Meyer has been providing us with insights into our national psyche and consumer behavior for almost forty years. Unlike the Pop Art movement, which focused on the individual everyday object, Meyer’s work emphasizes the stream of juxtapositions of images that are fed into our lives daily from the past and present, reflecting on who we are. In his paintings, these images reveal themselves collectively through people and objects that are seemingly randomly selected from the encyclopedic stream of the visual feed of the community psyche. This feed, which is composed of a myriad of ubiquitous information portals, from the television screen to the glossy magazine or Instagram that spreads across the cinema stage to multimedia advertising, constantly shapes us.
Meyer’s paintings show a view of every moment in time within this stream and the personal as well as non-personal images that emerge in each of us at this particular moment.
Pin-up girls pose next to Mickey Mouse, while society stars like Paris Hilton compete with glamorous icons like Marilyn Monroe. They show us that we draw our own conclusions based on the individual perspective and person. The Auqarelle Flahsback, Wallpaper or Heroes on Paper with their flashy cars also reflect the metallic sparkle of money, haute couture and the dreams hidden within us.
Quick information in a fast-moving world is highlighted on the canvas, a judgment or socio-political statement expressed in candy-colored, detailed and illustrious paintings. From his early years as an artist, when he was Salvador Dali’s assistant, to his recent success in being honored as the artist of the opening exhibition of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Giessen, Meyer has remained true to his voice. Although the visual material is constantly changing and runs through the annals of culture from historical to contemporary, it is still the viewer’s consistent responsibility to load the visual material with any inner meaning, value or consideration based on his personal experience, attitude and place in the context of the images. In recent years, Meyer has developed into one of the most important Pop Art artists in Germany. His works are now shown in galleries and museums around the world and have been acquired in many important private and institutional collections. Over 30 books and catalogs have been published about his work.
Heiner Meyer is a Pop Art painter and sculptor, he lives and works in Bielefeld. Meyer was born in 1953. He became interested in art and painting at an early age and had his first solo exhibition in a gallery in Münster at the age of 19. In 1973 and 1974 he spent time in London and Cadaqués, where Heiner Meyer worked as assistant to Salvador Dalí. He studied fine arts at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste in Braunschweig, where he received a teaching position in 1983. During this time he also set up his first studio in Bielefeld.
His works often show contrasting elements. He combines different techniques like painting and photography as well as different main motifs. Through theme, colorfulness and their high contrast, Meyer’s works remind us of striking advertisements. Motifs from the world of casino and gambling, luxury items such as cars, diamonds and perfume and advertising slogans are recurring. Meyer often combines this with the portrait of a Hollywood star or model.
His sculptures such as the “Botox Box” and Disney figures such as Scrooge also belong to the genre of Pop Art. Meyer’s works are integrated into public and private collections worldwide. Tommy Hilfiger, an important collector of American Pop Art, acquired several works from Meyer in 2014. One sculpture was featured on the front page of the September 2014 issue of Architectural Digest (AD) USA in connection with The Tommy Hilfiger Collection.
The exhibition “Stories of the Future” with works by Heiner Meyer took place at the Frank Fluegel Gallery from April 17, 2015 to May 30, 2015.
1953 Born in Bielefeld
1973 Stay in London
1974 stay in Cadaqués/E
1977/82 Study trips to the USA
1977/83 Study of fine arts at the HBK Braunschweig with Prof. Karl Schulz and Prof. Malte Sartorius
1981 Rudolf-Wilke Prize of the city of Braunschweig Master student of Prof. Malte Sartorius
1982 Art Prize Lottery Association of Lower Saxony Prize Winner
1983/84 Teaching activity at the HBK Braunschweig
1987 Ebernburg Scholarship Rhineland-Palatinate
1995 Funding by the Ministry of Culture of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia
1996 Travel scholarship of the Goethe Institute Kansai Osaka/Japan
today Heiner Meyer lives and works in Bielefeld. His works are in possession of public and private collections.
Selected Heiner Meyer Shows and Exhibitions:
2024
To be announced.
2023
„Pop Art Now“ – Bank Austria Kunstforum Wien
2021
ART ABOUT SHOES – HEINER MEYER – Deutsche Pop Art im Stiletto-Format. Museum Schloss Oberhausen
Love Affair, Kunsthaus Hannover, Germany
Private Collections (selection):
Collection Ahlers, Hannover
Ralph Anstoetz, Bielefeld
Dr. Wilhelm Bender, Frankfurt a. M.
Susan & Terry Block, California/USA
Collection Klaus D. Brennecke, Berlin
German Postal Museum, Frankfurt a. M.
Dr. Joachim Feldges, Munich
Flügel Collection, Nuremberg
Fröhlich Collection, Zurich/CH
Tommy Hilfiger Collection, Miami/USA
Collection Honsel, Boca Raton
Collection Hummel, Pirmasens
Herforder Kunstverein
Hewlett-Packard, Palo Alto/USA
Marie-Luise & Matthias Küper, Stuttgart
Collection Kettler, Bönen
Kerber publishing house, Bielefeld
Kodama Collection, Osaka/J
Heike and Adi Kraus, Frankfurt a. M.
Mang Collection, Lake Constance
Fundacio Miro, Barcelona/E
Lambert Monet, Palma de Mallorca/E
Museum Abbey Liesborn, Liesborn
Museum Ludwig, Koblenz
Museum for the Principality of Lüneburg
Museum Minden
Collection C. Merker, Switzerland
Museum Oldenburg
Museum Ritter, Waldenbuch
Museum Würth, Künzelsau
Museum Walter, Augsburg
Sal. Oppenheim Collection, Cologne, Berlin
Sculpture Hall Basel, Basel/CH
Collection Thomas Sommer, Obermichelbach
Sullivan & Cromwell, Frankfurt a. M., Chicago/USA
Martin von Wagner Museum, Würzburg
Collection Udo Walz, Berlin
Collection Westerwelle, Weber, Bielefeld
Collection Wilden, Regensburg
Zeppelin Museum, Friedrichshafen
Collection Nicholas Zoullas, New York/USA
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