Wolfgang Laemmle




Background:
Growing up under extreme circumstances in Germany's post war confusion,(his Mother left the small boy with his rough grandparents, returnees from Brazil,to seek a better life in America), Wolfgang lived in an idyllic small village with timber-framed houses.

He spent more time in nature than in the classroom, roaming about the forests, crystal clear creeks and meadows covered with wildflowers.

From an early age (he sold his first oil painting at the age of 12), Wolfgang was passionate about painting. He worked as a printer and spent his wages on oils, brushes and art books. His spare time was spent either on the easel out in the countryside or in museums.

By visiting and befriending Old Masters he would study their techniques and learn from their wisdom.

By the age of 36 he was the proud owner of a gallery where he held regular exhibitions of his own and selected artists' works, as well as hosting artists' circles at the round table in the gallery's café.

In 1988 he followed in the footsteps of his successors to France and settled in the idyllic Perigord on the Dordogne. Surrounded by lush landscapes and ancient, flower-vine covered buildings, colourful markets and original locals he found plentiful motives to paint, and he shared his knowledge and experience by tutoring emerging artists in the arts retreat of his ‘Chateaux les Ormeaux'.

19 years later, and after the tragic death of his spouse, Wolfgang found himself in a completely new situation: When he met again his love from 25 years earlier who since resided in Australia. He re-married and left France for good to start at the age of 65 a new life in Australia.

The comfort Wolfgang gained from the memories of an unspoiled nature of his childhood and the romantic scenery in France is sincerely expressed in his paintings of timeless beauty and harmony.

It comes as no surprise that these images are best expressed in his chosen style: Post-Impressionism. The playful manner with which he lets the paint brush dance over the canvas to add flecks of light to an almost finished painting awarded him the title ‘Painter of the Light’.


Themes:
Landscapes, still-lifes, portraiture, horse portraits, animals, etchings, drawings, flower arrangements, erotica, people (work and pleasure), lithography, and in particular romantic scenes of the French countryside.

Education:
Self-trained, Wolfgang trained himself with extensive studies of the techniques of over 50 Old Masters.

Classes from Artist Otto Haas

1955 Trade-apprenticeship as printer


EmploymentProjects:
1988 Opening of Arts Retreat and Gallery in his ‘Chateaux les Ormeaux’ in Ste. Alvere, France

1976 Opening of his own Gallery: 'Kastenscheuer'

1973 Building site Art Project, Indoor Swimming pool, Vaihingen/Enz, Germany

1973 Portfolio with 10 lithographs ‘Big District town Vaihingen/Enz’

1973 Portfolio with 10 lithographs ‘Greyhounds’

1972 Foundation of the Gallery ‘Burg Lichtenfels’ in Bottwartal, Germany

1968 Foundation of the Open Air Gallery at Stuttgart’s Charlottenplatz, Germany

1957 to 1970 Employment as Printer


Awards / Grants:
2009 Kenilworth Art Prize Award
2008 WINNER of the Wilderness Prize, Kenilworth Art Show
1978 Scholarship of the 'Robert-Bosch-Foundation'-Residency in Barbizon, France


Solo Exhibitions:
2011 ‘Anniversary exhibition‘, Atelier Reichlin, Switzerland
2011 ‘70th. Birthday exhibition’, Galerie im Garten,Germany
2010 ‘French Connections’, Gallery Beneath, Mooloolaba, Australia
2004 ‘Rebel with a past’, Strenger Group, Ludwigsburg
2002 ‘Painter of Light’, Kursaal Stuttgart, Germany
2000 Bad Schinznach, Switzerland
1998 Galerie Bianchi, Unterentfelden, Switzerland
1996-2011 annual Spring/Autumn Exhibitions at ‘Galerie im Garten’, Germany, and ‘Atelier Reichlin’ in Switzerland
1996 Galerie Bianchi, at Art Treff, Unterentfelden
1995 Castle Heidelberg, Germany
1995 Rosengarten, Mannheim, Germany
1995 Kurhaus Wiesbaden, Germany
1995 Saalbau Neustadt, Weinstrasse, Germany
1995 Atelier for Art and Framing, Stuttgart
1994 Spring and Autumn Exhibitions, Kursaal, Stuttgart
1991 ‘Pour le plaisir des Yeux’‚ Paris, France
1984 Gustav-Siegle-Haus, Stuttgart, Germany
1980/82/83 Spring exhibitions at the House of Arts, Munich, Germany
1977 Grand Palace of the Champs-Elysees,Paris, France
1976-1988 annual Exhibitions at Galerie Kastenscheuer‘
1976 'Reuchlin-Museum', Pforzheim, Germany
1975-1980 several Solo Exhibitions in Europe


Group Exhibitions:
2012 Gadfly Gallery, Perth, Western Australia
2009 ‘The Impressionists’, Red Hill Gallery, Brisbane
2000 Guinness Record Project: ‘Art at the highest level', in collaboration with a group of 50 artists in Bettmeralp, Switzerland.



Published Writing:
2010 Short Film ‘Wolfgang Laemmle, Live and Work at Queensland’s Sunshine Coast’, by Mike Middleton
2002 Book ‘My life should be fragrant’, Biography and paintings of Wolfgang Laemmle, written by H. Wegenast
1996 Book ‘Wolfgang Laemmle’ published by econom
1995 TV Film ‘Wolfgang Laemmle’, by Dr. Harold Woetzel
1994 Guest in the TV Show ‘Tell the truth’, ARD
1994 TV Film ‘The art of the forgers’, ZDF, by Dr. Jutta
Szostak
1993 TV Film ‘Caution – Art’, by Dr. Harold Woetzel, SW3
1990 TV Film ‘Portrait of Wolfgang Laemmle’, FR 3 Bordeaux, France
1989 TV Film ‘The Art of Wolfgang Laemmle’,
1988 several TV Shows in Germany, (ARD, ZDF, SW, Bayern3)
1986 Book ‘I – the Autodidact’, Memories of talks with artist Wolfgang Laemmle, by M. K. Burk
1979 Art book: ‘A Visit to the Atelier’, Self Publishing
1978 Book ‘Swabian Painting’, Self Publishing
1976 Book ‘The Painter Wolfgang Laemmle’, Artist, Friend and special person
1973 Book ‘The Artist Wolfgang Laemmle: ‘Perception as basis of all paintings’, Self Publishing


Recent Publications:
2009 ‘Love, Light and Tradition’ Salt Magazine, Autumn Edition
2009‘ A Visit to the Fatherland’, Gympie Times, January
2008 ‘International acclaimed Artist..’, Cooroy News, April
2007 ‘Fools for Love’, Sunshine Coast Sunday, 13. May
2000 ‘Le peintre de la lumière’ Sud Quest Dordogne
1996 Art direct, Suisse, May Edition, Page 3-7


Collections:
State Gallery Stuttgart, Germany
Private Collections worldwide