H.O.Schmidt

Biography of H. O. Schmidt (Horst-Olaf Schmidt * November 9, 1960) H.O. Schmidt is a sculptor, painter, and action artist born and living in Germany. Today, after more than 45 years of artistic creation, he is known for works of abstract expressionism and neo-Fluxus. His works on canvas, with wood, metal, and many other materials, often reference current social issues. His works have found their way to UNESCO in India, the Vatican, and to the Dalai Lama. They underline his pacifist and humanist attitude! In the mid-1970s, H.O. Schmidt was a student of Hugo Imhoff in Düsseldorf and the chief set designer of the Wuppertal Municipal Theaters. At that time, he also received important artistic impulses and support from Wuppertal impressionist Günther Salewski. Already in 1977, H.O. Schmidt became a member of the Kunstverein of the Von-der-Heydt Museum, Wuppertal, which was also the venue for Joseph Beuys' first solo exhibition. In 1990, H.O. Schmidt received the "Werkhaus Remscheid" young artist award. Initially, he oriented himself to works by the American artist Milton Glaser and, in his early artistic phase, became enthusiastic about works by August Macke, Franz Marc, and Salvador Dalí. Later on, works by Georg Baselitz and Mary Bauermeister had a particularly personal influence on his creations. H.O. Schmidt's joint art and film project "von Wahrheiten" was the last before the death of the "Mother of Pre-Fluxus," Mary Bauermeister. In recent years, the artist has participated in exhibitions at the "Galerie Meerkatze" in Königswinter, the Women's Museum in Bonn, the "Kunstsalon" in Lennep, the Remscheid Academy, the Bad Honnef Art Space, and the "Old Fur Factory" in Unkel/Rhine. However, he primarily used alternative methods for numerous art projects, such as for "Notre Damè," one of the largest indoor action paintings, covering about 500 m² of canvas. The German television (WDR) reported on it. This was followed by extensive art projects and film documentaries, for example, on the 100th anniversary of Joseph Beuys (in collaboration with Professor Dieter Kreidler) and more than one homage to Mary Bauermeister. In 2021, H.O. Schmidt was invited to participate in the international art and science project "Digitopia." He designed the Friedrich Engels Art Prize (Wuppertal) and the Klaus Novy Prize for Berlin. H.O. Schmidt is a member of the Professional Association of Visual Artists (BBK). Since 2022, the artist from Remscheid has been, alongside prominent founding members like Prof. Dr. Dieter Ronte, the president of the international art initiative "Artorale." His current designs and works for 2025 are being created for Italy, Germany, New Zealand, and Tunisia. Artist Info: Google, "Talking Art, Divossen," YouTube, WDR Media Library, Press, Radio RSG