Heinz Mack Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Heinz Mack
Heinz Mack 2008
Born	Heinz Mack 8 March 1931 (1931-03-08) (age 94) Lollar, People's State of Hesse, Germany
Known for	op art, light art and kinetic art
Movement	Zero (art)

Heinz Mack (born March 8, 1931) is a famous German artist. He is known for creating art that uses light and movement.

In 1957, he started the ZERO movement with his friend Otto Piene. This group of artists wanted to create new art. Mack's work often involves op art (art that tricks your eye), light art (art made with light), and kinetic art (art that moves).

About Heinz Mack
Art Shows by Heinz Mack
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About Heinz Mack

Early Life and Studies

Heinz Mack was born in 1931 in Lollar, a small town in Germany. He studied art at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf from 1950 to 1956. This is where he learned many skills.

Starting the ZERO Movement

In 1957, Mack and Otto Piene began holding "evening exhibitions" in their studio. These shows were the start of the ZERO group. The main artists in ZERO were Mack, Piene, and Günther Uecker. Other famous artists like Yves Klein and Lucio Fontana also joined the movement. They all wanted to make art that was fresh and exciting.

Art and Exhibitions

In the early 1960s, Mack also taught art at a school in Düsseldorf. In 1964, Mack, Piene, and Uecker created a special "ZERO Light Room" for the documenta art show in Kassel. This room showed how they used light in their art.

From 1964 to 1966, Mack lived and worked in New York City. He had his own art show there in 1966.

Mack's Unique Art Style

Heinz Mack is famous for his large outdoor sculptures. These sculptures often look very simple, a style called minimalist. But he also made smaller artworks. Some of these were still, while others moved. For example, his Light Dynamo #2 from 1966 is a sculpture with spinning discs. This is an example of his kinetic work.

Since 1991, Mack has also been creating bright, colorful paintings. He uses acrylic paints for these abstract works.

International Recognition

In 1970, Mack was a visiting professor in Osaka, Japan. That same year, he represented Germany at the Venice Biennale. This is a very important art exhibition. For the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, he designed a glowing "Wasserwolke" (Water cloud). He was also asked to create a huge sculpture for the United Nations in New York, but it was not built.