Michael Morgner's work addresses questions of humanism and human existence. The Chemnitz-based painter, graphic artist, and sculptor combines figurative elements with symbolically enriched forms. Michael Morgner creates visually dense pictorial compositions. His figures are faceless, alienated, and tormented creatures. “Actually,” he says, “I’ve always painted crucifixions, not those of Jesus, but our own.”
| 1942 | born in Chemnitz |
| 1961-1966 | studied at the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst (HGB) Leipzig |
| 1972 | first graphic portfolio ″Ovid-Metamorphosen″ |
| 1973 | Co-founder of Galerie Oben in Karl-Marx-Stadt |
| 1975-1986 | participation in various plein-air events in Mecklenburg, the Thuringian Forest, and the Elbe Sandstone Mountains with performances and land art actions |
| 1977-1982 | co-founder of the artist group and producer gallery CLARA MOSCH together with Carlfriedrich Claus, Thomas Ranft, and Gregor-Torsten Kozik/Schade |
| 1977 | discovery of the lavage technique |
| 1978 | development of the walking figure |
| since then regular stays in Ahrenshoop | |
| 1984 | beginning of work on the theme ″Ecce Homo″ |
| 1988 | refusing to participate in the 10th Art Exhibition of the GDR |
| withdrawal from the Künstlerverband | |
| main prize at the Sofia Triennial | |
| 1991 | participation in the Triennial in New Delhi, India |
| founding member of the Sächsische Akademie der Künste Dresden; founding member of the Freie Akademie der Künste Leipzig | |
| winner of the Griffelkunst Hamburg | |
| 1992 | art prize of the Große Kunstausstellung NRW, Düsseldorf |
| 1993 | first steel sculptures |
| 1993-2000 | exhibition tour organized by the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen through 37 cities in Europe, Asia, and America |
| 1998 | winner of the international competition for the new Kemperger Altar |
| 2001 | catalogue raisonné of prints |
| 2003/05/07 | guest professorship at the Internationale Sommerakademie für Bildende Kunst Salzburg |
| 2004 | winner of the plastics competition for Biocity Leipzig |
| 2006 | art award from the Stiftung Christliche Kunst Wittenberg |
| 2008 | stained glass window for St. Joseph's Church in Dresden |
| 2009 | altarpiece triptych and bronze sculpture for the Neumünster Chapel in Würzburg |
| 2012 | Gerhard-Altenbourg-Preis, Lindenau-Museum Altenburg |
| 2017 | opening of the installation ″Codex Morgner″ at the Kunsthaus Premnitz |
| 2018 | Schmidt-Rottluff Art Prize awarded by the Schmidt-Rottluff Art Prize Foundation Chemnitz |
| lives and works in Einsiedel/Chemnitz |
| 1974 | Galerie Arkade, Berlin |
| 1980 | Leonhardi-Museum, Dresden |
| 1982 | Museum der bildenden Künste, Leipzig, with Rolf Münzner (participation) |
| Kleine Galerie des Kulturbundes der DDR, Karl-Marx-Stadt (Chemnitz) »5 years of »Clara Mosche« 1977-1982« (participation) | |
| 1984 | Galerie Oben, Karl-Marx-Stadt (Chemnitz) |
| Galerie des Kulturbundes der DDR, Hainichen | |
| 1985 | Galerie Junge Kunst, Frankfurt/Oder |
| Neuer Berliner Kunstverein, Berlin/West »Five Artists from the GDR« (participation) | |
| 1986 | Galerie unter den Linden, Berlin/Ost |
| 1987 | Galerie im Cranachhaus, Weimar |
| Galerie am Brühl, Karl-Marx-Stadt (Chemnitz) | |
| 1989 | Angermuseum, Erfurt |
| Galerie Schmidt-Rottluff, Karl-Marx-Stadt (Chemnitz) | |
| 1990 | Dresdner Bank AG, Frankfurt/Main |
| 1992 | Städtische Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz »Michael Morgner. Overview of works 1972–1991« |
| Galerie Barthel + Tetzner, Köln (participation) | |
| 1993 | Saarland-Museum, Saarbrücken |
| Diözesan-Museum, Trier | |
| 1994 | Galerie Rähnitzgasse, Dresden (participation) |
| 1995 | Galerie Gunnar Barthel, Berlin |
| 1997 | Lindenau-Museum, Altenburg »Clara Mosch 1977-1982« (participation) |
| 1997/1998 | Jenaer Kunstverein e.V., Jena (participation) |
| 2000 | Neue Sächsische Galerie, Chemnitz |
| 2001 | Galerie Barthel + Tetzner, Berlin |
| 2004 | Universität Leipzig, Krochhochhaus, Leipzig |
| 2010 | Rosenheim-Museum, Offenbach/Main |
| 2011 | Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz |
| 2012 | Sprengel Museum, Hannover |
| 2017 | Kunstmuseum Ahrenshoop |
| 2019 | GALERIE HIMMEL, Dresden, with Rolf Münzner and Claus Weidensdorfer (participation) |
| 2022 | Lindenau-Museum im Prinzenpalais des Residenzschlosses Altenburg |
| Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz | |
| 2023 | GALERIE HIMMEL, Kabinett, Dresden |
