Wikipedia:WikiAfrica/Stubs/Peter Schutz

Peter Schütz (b. 1942, d. 2008) was a German sculptor who spent much of his life working in South Africa, where he was greatly influential in the development of the nation's art. Schütz obtained his Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees from Natal University in Durban in 1982.

Art Career
Schütz was the recipient of the 1984 Standard Bank Young Artist Award and the Cape Town Triennial Gold Medal in 1988. His work was featured in a great number of solo and group exhibitions, including Durban Municipal Art Museum, Atlantis/Mariposa, and the Johannesburg Art Gallery. His work is also held in the collections of corporations such as Telkom, Sasol, and Chase Manhattan Bank. His long association with the Goodman Gallery positioned him as one of the major contemporary artists of South Africa.

Schütz's African upbringing is constantly apparent in his work. Working mostly in wood, he explored the female form and religious iconography with a specific but universal appeal. His sculptures often juxtapose the commonplace and the ethereal. While still being hailed as a contemporary artist, Schütz maintained a traditional practice, dedicated to the craftwork and preferring solitude to celebrity and hype.

Teaching
When not creating art, Schütz was a dedicated teacher and educator. He taught at several tertiary institutions in South Africa, including the Technikon Natal and the University of the Witwatersrand.