Austrian Light Artist Brigitte Kowanz Dies at 64

Brigitte Kowanz, an Austrian artist known for exploring light, space, language, and code, has died at age 64. Her career began in the 1980s within a male-dominated art scene. In 2017, she represented Austria at the Venice Biennale with Erwin Wurm, presenting 'Infinity and Beyond,' an installation of neon, mirrors, and two-way mirrors that created infinite light loops engaging both physical and conceptual space. She created public sculptures across Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, including 'Lichtnahrung' at Jülich Research Centre (2022), 'Light Circles' at MQ-Libelle in Vienna (2020), 'Beyond Recall' at Staatsbrücke bridge in Salzburg (2011), and 'In Vivo – In Vitro' at Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine in Münster (2006). Her works are in international museum collections such as Museo de Bellas Artes in Caracas, Fundación ARCO in Madrid, and Borusan Art Collection in Istanbul. Her son stated she was driven by a desire for change, seeking the unknown and transgressing the status quo with precision, clarity, sovereignty, and respect.