Gustav Metzger, Auto-Destructive Art Pioneer and Political Activist, Dies at 91
Gustav Metzger has died at his home in London. He was born on 10 April 1926 in Nuremberg, Germany, to Polish-Jewish parents and fled to Britain through Kindertransport in 1939, tragically losing most of his family during the Holocaust. His artistic training took place from 1945 to 1953 across Cambridge, London, Antwerp, and Oxford, where he was associated with David Bomberg. By 1958, he became involved in anti-capitalist initiatives, co-founding the Committee of 100 for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in 1960, which led to his imprisonment alongside Bertrand Russell in 1961. His 1959 manifesto, 'Auto-destructive Art,' criticized capitalism. Metzger was influential in London's underground art community, with recent shows at Tate Britain (2016) and MAMAC, Nice (2017).
Key facts
- Gustav Metzger died at his home in London
- He was born on 10 April 1926 in Nuremberg, Germany to Polish-Jewish parents
- He arrived in Britain via the Kindertransport in 1939
- Much of his immediate family perished in the Holocaust
- He studied art in Cambridge, London, Antwerp, and Oxford from 1945-53
- He was associated with artist David Bomberg during his studies
- He was a founder member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament’s Committee of 100 in 1960
- He was imprisoned in 1961 with Bertrand Russell for encouraging mass non-violent civil disobedience
- He published the 'Auto-destructive Art' manifesto in 1959
- Auto-destructive art was described as a political weapon against capitalism and art market profiteering
- He was a key figure in London's 1960s underground art scene alongside John Latham and David Medalla
- He initiated the 'Destruction in Art' project
- His practice spanned over 65 years focusing on social self-destruction and environmental issues
- His solo exhibition 'Remember Nature' continues at MAMAC Nice until 14 May
- His Liquid Crystal Environment is on display at Tate Modern
- His work is included in 'This Way Out of England: Gallery House in Retrospect' at Raven Row, London
Entities
Artists
- Gustav Metzger
- David Bomberg
- John Latham
- David Medalla
- Bertrand Russell
Institutions
- MAMAC
- MUSAC
- Tate Britain
- Museo Jumex
- CoCA Torun
- Neuer Berliner Kunstverein
- Kunsthall Oslo
- Kunstnernes Hus
- Tel Aviv Museum of Art
- Kettle’s Yard
- Serpentine Gallery
- Raven Row
- Tate Modern
- Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
- Committee of 100
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Nuremberg
- Germany
- Cambridge
- Antwerp
- Belgium
- Oxford
- Nice
- France
- León
- Spain
- Mexico City
- Mexico
- Torun
- Poland
- Berlin
- Oslo
- Norway
- Tel Aviv
- Israel