Kurt Schwitters

Kurt Schwitters (1887-1948)

Schwitters was a German painter, sculptor, typographer and writer. Born in Hanover who studied at the School of Arts and Crafts in Hanover (1908-9) and at Dresden Academy (1909-14).

Influenced by Expressionism and Cubism Schwitters created his own form of Dada in Hanover called ‘Merz’, using rubbish materials such as labels, bus tickets and bits of broken wood in his collages and constructions. From 1923 he worked as a commercial artist, graphic designer and typographer for several companies from Hanover and beyond but is still best known for his collages.

In 1940 Kurt Schwitters fled to England where he remained for the rest of his life. His work has been highly influential to many British artists including Richard Hamilton, Eduardo Paolozzi, Damien Hirst and Peter Blake, who dedicated a series of prints to Schwitters entitled ‘Homage to Schwitters’.