The main focus of Stefan Neidhardt’s work is life-size female sculptures made from massive tree trunks – where he usually aims to be as realistic as possible, while his small-format female figures are mostly stylized and feature deliberately exaggerated body proportions. With all sculptures, his intention is to put female beauty in the foreground: self-confident, calm, pensive, erotic.
The artist is inspired by the zeitgeist of the “Roaring Twenties”, in particular the mysticism and the ideal of beauty that arose around the Berlin dancer and style icon Anita Berber.
Stefan Neidhardt was born in Suhl in the Thuringian Forest in 1973. This is where he grew up, and also lives and works ever since. His studio is right next to his house. In 1990 he started his apprenticeship in stone carving, which became his career. Ten years later he discovered a new medium to create his sculptures – timber, which became his obsession. The timber of choice is usually limewood or oak. The material has less influence on the work. The choice of color is more important to the subject.
His art enjoys great popularity in Europe and is now seen for the first time in Australia.
