Image: Franz West | Sisyphos, 2002 | The ALBERTINA Museum, Vienna – The ESSL Collection | 2026 © Archiv Franz West, © Archiv Franz West © Estate Franz West, Photo: Lisa Rastl
The Albertina Modern is devoting a retrospective to Franz West in honor of what would have been his 80th birthday. Titled ‘The Revolution of Sculpture,’ the exhibition begins on 6 November 2026 and will be on view at ALBERTINA MODERN through 29 March 2027.
Under the influence of Viennese Actionism, West originated his Adaptives in the 1970s. These prosthesis-like objects adapt to the human body’s shapes by being worn, held, and applied, giving audiences the opportunity to interact with them; objects thus become opportunities, with art becoming a situation.
The exhibition frames West’s oeuvre as one that breaks boundaries, connects art with life, and has inspired multiple generations of artists. It presents a homage to an artist who removed art from its pedestal and placed it in the thick of life.
Described as a nonconformist artist known for an unruly personality characterized by willfulness and humor, West participated in multiple editions of documenta and the Venice Biennale. He received the Venice Biennale’s Golden Lion in 2011.
The Wien Museum is also presenting an exhibition dedicated to Franz West in cooperation with the Albertina. The two exhibitions will open in parallel on 6 November 2026 and celebrate the artist’s extensive body of work.
