Franz West (1947-2012) would have turned eighty in 2027. On the occasion of this anniversary, the Albertina presents a major retrospective dedicated to the artist, accompanied by an extensive publication. The book not only historically traces West's creative output, but simultaneously positions it as a central contribution to expanding the definition of sculpture and critically redefining the connection between art, the body, and daily life. Even though the artist integrated almost all mediums and artistic genres into his practice, the core of his oeuvre remains his continuous engagement with sculpture. This very formal openness forms a crucial prerequisite for the enduring influence of his oeuvre on the international art stage.

Franz West, born in Vienna in 1947, began his artistic career as a self-taught artist and only later studied under Bruno Gironcoli. Throughout his life, he broke the traditional rules of sculpture. As early as the mid-1970s, he completely bridged the gap between object and viewer. In 2011, he received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale for his sculptural oeuvre.