1934-2014

The German sculptor and painter was born in 1934 in Cologne as the son of an old-established mountain artisan family. First, he learned to trade, then started to his own artistic activity in 1979.

First he created still lifes in oil and pastel, portraits of celebrities such as Franz Josef Strauss and Herbert von Karajan in bronze. Later he turned mainly to animal motifs, in which he emphasized special qualities of different species. Meanwhile, this fantastic self-study artist developed his characteristic expressive language. Beyond academic experiments, which were far from any naturalistic platitudes, he formed the symbols of living nature with his hands. His ideals are intact world and free wild nature. He managed to make his work eternally topical.

For his work Kurt Arentz used a special silicone rubber method, which allowed him the immediate realization of his ideas. In this way the bronze castings obtain the specific handwriting of the artist. In a final step, the surfaces of the metal polished, roughened or patinated and get their motive-typical characteristics.

The sculptor presented his works to a large audience in numerous exhibitions in Germany and France. On his 70th birthday May 30, 2004 Kurt Arentz received congratulations from former Chancellor Helmut Kohl and former Federal President Roman Herzog. Arentz won credits and honors from prominent personalities: the officials like Willy Brandt, Ronald Reagan or George Bush senior, as well as Sir Peter Ustinov and Willy Millowitsch have their portraits prepared by Kurt Arentz.

The biggest achievement of Kurt Arentz is reflected in his animal sculptures, he is regarded worldwide as one of the greatest animal sculptor of the 20th century. In 2001 Arentz was honored for his artistic and social commitment with the Federal Cross of Merit, his sculptures are among others in the White House, Washington, and at the Museum of European Art, New York.

Like no other, he succeeded in getting to the actual nature of the animal. The popularity by these nature studies is determined by their strong expressive power, but also by their carefree gaiety: creative energy of Arentz expresses the joy of life.

His last years Kurt Arentz lived and worked in Leverkusen. He died in June, 2014.