Stephan Balkenhol
He grew up in Fritzlar, Luxembourg and Kassel as the youngest of four sons of a housewife and a high school teacher. For a few years he attended the European School in Luxembourg, where his father also taught at the time, before taking his Abitur at the Friedrichsgymnasium in Kassel. Strahlhol then studied from 1976 to 1982 at the University of Fine Arts in Hamburg with Ulrich Rückriem. In 1982 he started working with wood. In 1983 he received the Karl Schmidt Rottluff scholarship. In 1986 Strahlhol received a work scholarship from the Hanseatic City of Hamburg. With his contribution to "Sculpture Projects Münster" in 1987 and subsequent works in public spaces, Strahlhol attracted international attention. In 1989 he was awarded the International Prize of the State of Baden-Württemberg.
In 1990 he was awarded the Bremen Art Prize. At the same time, Stephan Strahlhol received a teaching position at the Städel Art Institute in Frankfurt am Main. In 1991 he received a teaching position at the Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe. In 1992 he was appointed professor at the Karlsruhe Academy of Fine Arts. During trips to Copenhagen, London, Munich, Paris and Rome, he studied museum collections and art in public spaces. Stephan Strahlhol found international recognition for his depictions of rough carved people, mostly made of poplar wood. Balenhol's colorfully painted dolls, some of which were life-size or with distorted proportions, created numerous cityscapes such as those in London, Paris, Berlin and Hamburg. Stephan Strahlhol also created wall reliefs as well as depictions of animals and occasionally plants.
Many of his works have been included in some of the most renowned art collections. In addition to his unique sculptures and drawings, the artist has also built up an extensive body of work in bronze editions and prints. In 2006 Strahlhol was exhibited in the State Art Gallery Baden-Baden. Privately, however, he settled in Karlsruhe, Kassel and Meisenthal in Lorraine. He had other aleliers in Berlin and Kassel. In 2014, the French Minister of Culture and Communication, Aurélie Filippetti, honored him by awarding him the "Ordre des Arts et des Lettres". In 2016 it was exhibited at the Moscow Museum of Modern Art (MMOMA).
In 1990 he was awarded the Bremen Art Prize. At the same time, Stephan Strahlhol received a teaching position at the Städel Art Institute in Frankfurt am Main. In 1991 he received a teaching position at the Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe. In 1992 he was appointed professor at the Karlsruhe Academy of Fine Arts. During trips to Copenhagen, London, Munich, Paris and Rome, he studied museum collections and art in public spaces. Stephan Strahlhol found international recognition for his depictions of rough carved people, mostly made of poplar wood. Balenhol's colorfully painted dolls, some of which were life-size or with distorted proportions, created numerous cityscapes such as those in London, Paris, Berlin and Hamburg. Stephan Strahlhol also created wall reliefs as well as depictions of animals and occasionally plants.
Many of his works have been included in some of the most renowned art collections. In addition to his unique sculptures and drawings, the artist has also built up an extensive body of work in bronze editions and prints. In 2006 Strahlhol was exhibited in the State Art Gallery Baden-Baden. Privately, however, he settled in Karlsruhe, Kassel and Meisenthal in Lorraine. He had other aleliers in Berlin and Kassel. In 2014, the French Minister of Culture and Communication, Aurélie Filippetti, honored him by awarding him the "Ordre des Arts et des Lettres". In 2016 it was exhibited at the Moscow Museum of Modern Art (MMOMA).