WES 21 /
REM0
LIENHARD
SCHWARZMALER
Contemporary Art / Murals / Illustration
CV
WES 21 / REMO LIENHARD
1989 Born in Bern, Switzerland
1995 – 2007 Primary & Secondary School in Biel
2007 – 2010 School of Art & Design / SfGB-B, Switzerland
since 2010 Artist and freelance Illustrator
ABOUT
„Skillfully blending reality and fiction, humor and serious topics, nature and industry, WES21's art world is overwhelmingly creative and distinctive. The unique pictorial language of this Swiss-born artist never fails to leave a strong impression on the viewer. The artist has long made a name for himself beyond the national borders, with exhibitions in New York, San Francisco, Berlin and Moscow and a strong presence in the mural scene across the globe.
Never lacking imagination, WES has an ability to astonish the viewer with his motifs and the incredible precision in the execution of his works. Pairing harmonious compositions with this unique imagination, he creates hybrid and unreal creatures come alive and impossible constructs real, stirring the viewers’ soul and making them think. In this destructive and conflicting combination of nature and industry that depicts a dystopian future, the artist’s great sense of humor prevails. Designed with a rare combination of spray paint, acrylic, and oil, his work is full of ambiguities and opposite dimensions. Combining everyday imagery with fantasy elements, there is a certain intricacy to his work. Characterized by harmonious visual composition and color palette, his canvases are executed with almost scientific accuracy, showing his sharp-eyed observation and the environment analysis.
Born in Biel, Switzerland as Remo Lienhard, WES has started artistic endeavors in 2001 when he began to take an interest in painting. After graduating from College of Art & Design in Biel, the artist became a freelance illustrator and designer, engaging in such projects as large scale murals, canvases and 3D sculptures, adding an unpredictable side to what’s typically expected of contemporary artists. He is part of SCHWARZMALER, a collective of outstanding artists, and illustrators. Successfully capturing a moment, whether real or imaginary, his detailed works are unquestionably stunning in nature, taking us to an artistic world unlike no other. He is constantly working on developing his unique visual language wich separates his work from the rest.“
- Text by Nadja Zeller, Art Historian
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2017 _ WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE | SOON Gallery Zurich, Switzerland
2016 _ METAPHYSICS | Whitewalls Gallery, San Francisco, USA
2015 _ OUTSIDE THE BOX | SOON Gallery Zurich, Switzerland
2013 _ HUNGRY EYES | SOON Gallery Bern, Switzerland
2012 _ APPETITE | SOON Gallery Zurich, Switzerland
2008 _ INTERMEZZO | Gallerie Quellgasse 3, Biel, Switzerland
Group Exhibitions
2018_ ON THE MOVE | Kirk Gallery | Aalborg, Denmark
2017 _ URBAN NATION MUSEUM | Permanent collection | Museum of urban contemporary art, Berlin, DE
2017 _ URBAN NATION MUSEUM | Pre-opening exhibition | Museum of urban contemporary art, Berlin, DE
2016 _ ARTMOSSPHERE BIENNALE MOSCOW | Curated by Urban Nation | Moscow, Russia
2016 _ POW! WOW! | Honolulu Museum Art School | Curated by Thinkspace Gallery | Hawai’i, USA
2015 _ BROTHERHOOD | Jonathan Levine Gallery | Curated by Yasha Young | New York City, USA
2015 _ IMPACT | 1975 Gallery, Rochester | Curated by Urban Nation | NY, USA
2015 _ URBAN SPACE | Kirk Gallery | Aalborg, Denmark
2015 _ JUNGKUNST CONTAINER MUSEUM | Winterthur, Switzerland
2015 _ NEW LANDSCAPES | SOON Gallery | Bern, Switzerland
2014 _ GROUP SHOW | Art Whino Gallery | Washington DC, USA
2013 _ OPENING EXHIBITION | SOON Gallery, Bern, Switzerland
2012 _ VERYCONTEMPORARAY 12 | Culture Center PROGR, Bern, Switzerland
2012 _ RENAISSANCE NOW! | Chimera-Project Space, Budapest, Hungary
2011 _ ARTYOU | Basel, Switzerland
2011 _ VERYCONTEMPORARY 11 | Culture center PROGR, Bern, Switzerland
2010 _ SWISS URBAN SALON | Budapest, Hungary
2010 _ JUNGKUNST | Winterthur, Switzerland
2010 _ SCHWARZMALER | INCIDENT IN BUDAPEST | TeleP, Budapest, Hungary
2008 _ ARTIG | Basel, Switzerland
Mural Projects
2018 _ BERLIN MURAL FEST |Herakut x Wes21 x Onur | Presented by Urban Nation | Berlin, Germany
2016 _ ICELAND AIRWAVES | Wes21 x Onur | Curated by Urban Nation | Reykjavîk, Iceland
2016 _ DEPTHS | Kkade x Wes21 x Onur | Curated by The Trace Gallery | Zürich, Switzerland
2015 _ ARTBASEL MIAMI| | Wes21 x Onur | „Sea Walls“ By Pangea Seed x Urban Nation | Miami, USA
2015 _ ONE WALL PROJECT | Wes21 x Onur | Presented by Urban Nation | Berlin, Germany
2015 _ WALLTHERAPY | Wes21 x Onur | Presented by Urban Nation | Rochester, NY, USA
2015 _ OUT IN THE OPEN | Wes21 x Onur | Presented by Kirk Gallery | Aalborg, Denmark
2015 _ AAC | Arhuus Art Convention | Wes21 x Kkade x Semor | Arhuus, Denmark
2014 _ RICHMOND MURAL PROJECT | Wes21 x Onur | Richmond, USA
2014 _ URBAN NATION GALLERY | Wes21 x Onur | Berlin, Germany
2014 _ SNEAKERNESS | Schwarzmaler x Onur | Zürich
2013 _ ELEMENTI SOTTERRANEI | Wes21 x Onur x Kkade x Semor | Gemoa del Friuli, Italy
2013 _ LAC| Laboratorio Actividades Criativas | Wes21 x Onur | Lagos, Portugal
2013 _ SAVE 5 POINTZ | Wes21 x Onur x Kkade x Semor | New York City, USA
2012 _ FAKT| Wes21 x Onur | Basel, Switzerland
ARTFAIRS
2014 _ STROKE ARTFAIR | Munich, Germany (SOON Gallery)
2012 _ STROKE ARTFAIR | Munich, Germany (SOON Gallery)
2012 _ BLOOOM ARTFAIR | Cologne, Germany (SOON Gallery)
2012 _ STROKE ARTFAIR | Munich, Germany (SOON Gallery)
2011 _ STROKE ARTFAIR | Berlin, Germany (SOON Gallery)
2011 _ STROKE ARTFAIR | Munich, Germany (SOON Gallery)
CLIENTS
- Aroma
- BETC Paris
- Camel
- Canal+
- Equal Visual Productions AG
- ETA Swatch Group
- FreyFrey AG
- Gassman AG
- Gilgen Door Systems AG
- Globus
- Julius Baer
- Kool Savas
- Manillio
- New Balance
- Pharoahe Monch
- Plaza Zürich
- RailCare
- Reitschule Bern
- Reebok
- Royal Arena Festival
- Samy Deluxe
- SFGB-B
- SRF
- SuisseTec
- Swisscom
- Volvo