Otto Piene

Otto Piene (1928, Germany – 2014, Germany) was a pivotal figure in the ZERO movement and an influential artist known for his innovative use of light, smoke, and fire. His diverse oeuvre includes kinetic sculptures, light installations, and “Sky Art” events that integrate art with technology, inviting active viewer participation.

Piene’s early abstract works, such as his Grid Paintings, emphasized light and texture. From 1959, he explored smoke and fire as mediums, creating dynamic compositions through chemical reactions and flame. These works significantly impacted the ZERO group, which Piene co-founded with Heinz Mack to redefine postwar European art.

His kinetic light objects and large-scale installations, like The Proliferation of the Sun and Electronic Light Ballet, combined geometric forms with light and shadow effects, resembling cosmological universes. In 1968, Piene began his “Sky Art” projects, which included helium-filled sculptures and large balloon installations, often staged as communal, performative events.

Piene's work continues to be celebrated for its integration of art and viewer experience. At Kunsthandel Meijer, we offer works by Otto Piene. For more details or to view his art, please contact us or visit our gallery.