Peter Willburger born 1942 in Hall/Tyrol – Austria, died 1998 in Raito, Costeria Amalfitana, South Italy
1963-64 studies in southern Italy (Acciaroli/Campania); Land Tirol scholarship for the encouragement of special gifts
1964-68 Akademie der bildenden Künste in Vienna under Prof. Max Weiler
The artist lived and worked in Raito, Costiera Amalfitana, South Italy
Peter Willburger has been occupied with etching techniques since 1974; first editions with IL Bisonte, Florence: 1976 one-year etching workshop in the Calcografia Nazionale in Rome with prof. Guido Strazza.
Since then etching has constituted the focal point of his work. In the course of these 20 years he has discovered new possibilities with thes ancient techniques, endorsing the etching’s autonomy as a means of expression: Peter Willburger has become one of the most outstanding exponents of the art of etching, resluting in numerous invitations to conferences and seminars in Europe and in the USA. His etchings can be found in notable private, pubblic and öuseum collections: Albertina/Vienna, Akademie der Bildenden Künste – Kupferstichkabinett/Vienna, tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum/Innsbruck, Stadtmuseum Hall in Tirol, art-collections of Land Tirol and Stadt Innsbruck, Statens Museum of Art/Copenhagen, Museum of Modern Art in Skopje, Ljubliana, Cracow, Museo Equador/quito, Calcografia Nazionale/Rome.
Besides etching, oil paintings, and water colours he made art works in ceramic (glazed panels, tables plates) and in glass (two glass sculptures 2,50 m high).
One of his master art works was created 1996-97 at the Calcografia Nazionale in Rome: the new entrance door for the Schloß Ambras in Innsbruck/Tyrol:
The new entrance door to the „Spanisch Hall“ – Schloss Ambras, Innsbruck
„FUGE & QUOD LIBET“ – 305 X 218 CM
17 iron plates worked by the artist in drypoint, aquaforte and aquatint technique in the famous Calcografia Nazionale in Rome. 4 copies on paper of this door were printed by Tonino Sannino at the Calcografia and exhibited there in 1966. Peter Willburger created the new door „Fuge & Quod libet“ in Schloss Ambras with this 17 iron plates in 1997 in cooperation with Arch. Ernst Bliem, Hall in Tirol.
Awards
1976 Florenz , Award of the International Jury, V. Biennale Internazionale della Grafica 1984
1977 Innsbruck, 1. Award, 9.Oesterreichischer Graphikwettbewerb
1984 Fredrikstad -Norwegen, Award of teh International Jury, Internationale Graphikbiennale
1987 important part in the movie “Domani Accadra´”, director Daniele Lucchetti, Produktion Sacher Film Rome
1996 Wien, 1.Knotenaward
1997 Innsbruck, award „Professor“-title
1997 Hall in Tirol, honoured by the City Stadt Hall
1998 Vietri sul Mare , Honour citizen of the town Vietri sul Mare (Salerno).
Individual Exhibitions (Selection)
1967 Innsbruck, Galerie Zentrum 107
1972 Roma, Studio S, with Salvador Dali
1975 Firenze, Il Bisonte, catalog, Text Dario Micacchi
1978 Venedig, Corbo & Fiore, folder, Text Magda Leonhard
1979 Hall/Tirol, Burg Hasegg, catalog, Text Guido Strazza and Peter Willburger
1979 Wien, Akademie d. B. K.-Theseustempel, “Tempi Mediterranei”
1979 Matera, Sassi, La Scaletta
1981 Bari, Galleria Fante dei Fiori
1982 Salerno, Galleria Taide, folder, Text Filiberto Menna
1983 Wien, Albertina, Katalog, Text W. Koschatzky, G.C. Argan, Peter Willburger
1984 Innsbruck, Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferd., Katalog, Texte Gert Ammann
1986 Innsbruck, Kunstpavillion, Klappbild “Wochenkalender” – Performance
1987 Innsbruck, Galerie Thomas Flora, “Poiesis”, Text Eva Hesse
1989 München, Galerie Maeder, Katalog, Text Dieter Ronte
1991 Innsbruck, Galerie Thomas Flora
1992 Salerno, Galleria Fovea, folder,Texte M. Buonuomo und A. D’Avossa
1994 Ulm, Stadthaus, Katalog, Text Dieter Ronte, Peter Willburger
1994 Innsbruck, CA-Galerie, Texte Elmar Zorn
1995 Vietri sul Mare, Salerno, Palazzo Soleri, folder, Text Konrad Oberhuber, E. Zorn, flute concert Wolfgang Schulz (Wiener Philharmoniker)
1995 Art calendar Di Mauro -Cava d.T., Salerno,”Küsten”, Text Pietro Amos, Patrizia Fiorillo, Peter Willburger
1995 Wien, Diners Club, Galerie, pres. Peter Kodera
1996 Napoli, Istituto Suor Orsola Benincasa, folder, Text Konrad Oberthuber, Cesare de Seta, Peter Willburger, concert
1996 Hall/Tirol, Galerie Elefant, Burg Hasegg, Etchings, Water colours . presentation Konrad Oberhuber; premier of Werner Pirchner’s concert “Der Strich des Radierers”, composed for P.Willburger; portrait of the artist in “Tirol-Sommer 96”, Text Konrad Oberhuber, Peter Willburger
1995 Glas-skulptur “Aussicht nach Innen” – Hauptschule Maurach-Achensee, Presentation Prof. E. Zorn und Arch. E. Bliem
1996 Rom, Istituto Nazionale della Grafica, Project “Fuge & Quod libet”, nwe door for the castle Schloss Ambras; 17 big iron plates , folder, Text Konrad Oberhuber, concert “Der Strich des Radierers”
1996 Schloss Ambras, Installation of the door and exhibition of the . Presentation W. Seipel, K. Oberhuber, concert
1997 Kunsthalle Tirol/Salzlager Hall/Tirol, pres. Elmar Zorn; catalogue Text K. Oberhuber, Peter.Willburger
Posthume Exhibitions and Activities: 1998, after the artist’s death, the “Association (Kunstverein) the art of Peter Willburger” was founded which organizes all posthume activities and exhibitions in cooperation with museums and galleries as follows:
1999: permanent exhibition at the Pinacoteca Provinciale di Salerno.
1999 Hall in Tirol, Rosenhaus, presentation of the glass-sculpture “Rückblick nach vorne”.
2000 Innsbruck, Kunstpavillon and presentation of the monographic book “Peter Willburger 1942-1998”.
2001 Naples, Palazzo Reale and presentation of the monographic book “Peter Willburger 1942-1998” curators Angelo Trimarco and Stefania Zuliani.
2002 Innsbruck, Galerie Flora and Hall in Tirol, Rosenhaus, 2 exhibitions for the 60th birthday.
2004 Salerno, Tempio di Pomona, curator Massimo Bignardi, catalogue “Io, sul sentiero degli Dei”.
2008 Milan, Palazzo Guicciardini; Ghiffa, Lago Maggiore; Hall in Tirol, Burg Hasegg, 3 exhibitions for the 10th anniversary, curator Antonio ‘Avossa, catalogue “Il Segno e l’Incanto”.
2010 Innsbruck, Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum, cuators Günther Dankl and Claudia Mark, catalogue “Netzwerke mit Seele”.
2012 Innsbruck, Schloss Ambras, curator Antonius Lanzinger.
2015 Salerno, Frac di Baronissi, curator Massimo Bignardi, catalogue “Peter Willburger e si suoi amici”.
TV-Portraits in Italy (Telecolore, RAI) and Austria (ORF).