Stephan Balkenhol Fritzlar, Germany, b. 1957

Since the mid-1980s, he has developed a highly recognizable visual language that merges traditional craftsmanship with a contemporary reimagining of the human figure.

Balkenhol studied at the Hamburg School of Fine Arts from 1976 to 1982 under the sculptor Ulrich Rückriem, with Nam June Paik and Sigmar Polke among his influential tutors. In contrast to the dominant abstract, minimalist, and conceptual tendencies of his time, he turned his focus toward ordinary, anonymous figures—rendered without heroism or idealization. His subjects wear simple, plain-colored clothing and stand in relaxed, neutral poses, evoking no specific emotion or narrative. These quiet, timeless presences reflect Balkenhol’s commitment to portraying the human condition in its most unassuming, universal form.

Over the years, Balkenhol's vocabulary expanded to include animals, hybrid creatures, and architectural elements, along with increasingly complex reliefs. His sculptures are often totemic in presence, drawing from the European traditions of folk art, medieval statuary, and classical forms. Despite their apparent restraint, the works possess a latent energy—a quiet confidence that resists easy interpretation and invites open-ended reflection.

The artist works primarily with woods such as poplar, Douglas fir, and wawa, carving each piece from a single block using hammers, chisels, and power saws. Shavings, tool marks, knots, and cracks remain visible, underscoring the raw physicality of the medium. Balkenhol applies color not to dramatize or sentimentalize, but to structure the figure and clarify form. The surfaces are intentionally rough and imperfect, highlighting the individuality and vulnerability of the human subject.