Germany
* June 2, 1966 Esslingen
Tobias Rehberger is one of Germany’s most important contemporary artists; his art refuses to be categorized into any single genre. His colorful works, often featuring vivid, striking hues, deliberately straddle the boundaries between sculpture, installation, design, architecture, and everyday objects. He transforms items such as furniture, lamps, cafés, and even entire gardens into artworks, constantly raising the question of where design ends and art begins.
Rehberger’s “dazzle” patterns – camouflage designs that visually dissolve objects and distort the perception of space and form – are characteristic for his work. Many of his pieces are designed to be interactive, such as walk-in bars or seating, allowing viewers to actually use them for their intended purpose. In this way, art becomes an experience rather than merely an object to be viewed.
A prime example of his work is the five-kilometer-long Rehberger Trail in Weil am Rhein, a project co-initiated by Vitra, which connects art and nature across 24 stations between Germany and Switzerland. In 2009, the artist was awarded the Golden Lion for his redesign of the café-bar at the Venice Biennale.
