Bernd Püribauer: Master of Art and Bridge Builder Between Worlds
Bernd Püribauer, born in 1976 in Neukirchen, Lower Austria, is a multifaceted artist working in painting, graphics, sculpture, performance, and music. He received his artistic education at the Ortwein School for Visual Design in Graz. Püribauer gained particular recognition as a cartoonist for the Vienna city newspaper “Falter” and the magazine “Wiener,” where his sharp-witted and often provocative drawings addressed societal issues. In 2010, he was one of the awarded artists the Outstanding Artist Award for Caricature and Comics and won the German Cartoon Prize in the same year.
His art balances between ironic lightness and profound reflection. A notable work was his 2014 object installation “Fukushima Aquarium” in the Art-Box of the MuseumsQuartier Vienna, which garnered international attention. His stage design for “Das Schwert des Ostens” was nominated for the prestigious Nestroy Prize in 2015. Additionally, he leads the Dada band Turbodeli, which pushes his creative boundaries even further.
In 2023, he founded his own gallery, “So Eine Art Gallery,” in Gloggnitz, where he lives and works. His works have been exhibited in numerous venues, including the project space WUK in Vienna, the Atelierhaus Salzamt in Linz, and the Cselley Mühle in Burgenland.
Bernd Püribauer at the Pannonians: A Meeting of Eras
Some encounters leave a lasting mark, not because they are loud or flamboyant, but because they hold deep significance in a quiet way. Such was our experience, as the Pannonians, when we had the opportunity to meet the outstanding artist and universal genius, Bernd Püribauer.
Our first meeting happened through mutual friends – proof that the right people cross paths at the right time. It began with a visit to his studio, a space filled with history and creativity. The atmosphere was electrifying. Some of his works had been etched in my mind for years, without me realizing they were his. I, Stony, had encountered them more than a decade ago at an exhibition in Cselley Mühle, and they had never left me. Now, I stood before the very artist who had created them.
But the encounter was not a one-sided admiration. Bernd, too, seemed fascinated – not only by our digital approach to art but also by the potential transformations that technologies like 3D printing, programming, AI, and the metaverse could bring to the art world. Our fast-paced digital art is something new, still struggling for recognition in a world that often clings to traditional media. Yet,
bridging tradition and innovation could very well shape the future of art. The exchange was inspiring for all of us. Bernd encouraged me to pick up paper and pencil again, to
return to painting on canvas. A reminder that traditional techniques have stood the test of time for good reason. At the same time, his music reignited a passion in some of us to engage with sound once more, something we had long neglected.
When Bernd visited us at the Pannonian Laboratories, a respectful acquaintance turned into an intense night of stories, art, and philosophy. Everything he said carried the wisdom of a master. It was an honor to listen to him. Our discussions spanned everything from the essence of existence to the potential evolution of AI. We explored the meaning of life and speculated on the future, not just
ten years ahead but even ten thousand years into the future – no topic was too vast or too small for this exchange.
Perhaps the most valuable aspect of this meeting was the lasting connection it forged. Now, we know that Bernd is there, and he knows that we are here. There remains the feeling that we can reach out to each other anytime – especially when ideas emerge that call for collaboration. This kind of networking is like mixing fire with gasoline: merging the classical with the new is both a challenge and a necessity. Alone, one can achieve much; together, even more.
That night with Bernd Püribauer was not just a meeting but the beginning of something greater. The art, the ideas, the inspiration – all of it will continue to live on, in our work, our thoughts, and, hopefully, in new collaborative projects.
Püribauer: Link Website
ArtDepot: Link Website
