Ekkehard Altenburger

German sculptor Ekkehard Altenburger grew up on a farm on the Swiss/ German border. Having worked as a Master Mason at the Gothic Cathedral of Schwabisch Gmuend, he began his academic studies in 1991, studying sculpture at Bremen’s Hochschule fuer Kuenste and Edinburgh College of Art, followed by an MA from Chelsea College of Art. He has work in collections throughout Europe and has shown extensively, recently exhibiting at SKULPTUR at Museum Rehmann, Switzerland, at the 2011 Sculpture at Glyndebourne 2011 and London’s Royal Academy 2011 Summer Show.

Two decades ago, when working as a Master mason on a Gothic Cathedral, I learned to appreciate stone. As a contemporary sculptor working in stone I use all the technology available to me in the 21st century, combined with traditional skills. Stone sculpture has much more to offer than just a beautiful surface; it is a great material that connects us with earth itself. I want to convey our physical relationship with the ground, and create a balance between form and surface.