A Life of Observation and Exploration
Born in Munich, Germany, Michael Mathias Kiefer was a multifaceted artist whose work spanned painting, sculpture, and photography. His early professional life was shaped by his role as a taxidermist for the zoological State Collection in Munich. This intimate connection with the natural world led to significant expeditions, including the first and second Gran Chaco expeditions to Argentina, Paraguay, and southern Brazil. During these journeys, Kiefer was responsible for photographic and cinematic documentation, and his resulting images were exhibited in Asunción and Buenos Aires.
Kiefer's artistic training included studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich under Angelo Jank. His travels were extensive, taking him to East Prussia, Hungary, Turkey, and later to regions such as Tanganyika, Kenya, Uganda, Sweden, Norway, the East Coast of the USA, and Canada. His diverse subject matter included landscapes, portraits of humans and animals, and studies of wildlife.
Artistic Legacy and Subject Matter
The oeuvre of Michael Mathias Kiefer is characterized by its focus on the natural world and the human form. He was a prominent illustrator for hunting magazines for forty years and contributed to various publications, including Kosmos and the Franckh’s textbook publishing house. His work was frequently showcased in major exhibitions in Munich, Berlin, and Düsseldorf, as well as at the Munich Artists' Association.
In his later years, Kiefer resided in Feldwies at Lake Chiemsee, where he maintained a private zoo containing foxes, deer, and various birds. His artistic output included:
Following his death, a commemorative exhibition was held in 1982, accompanied by the publication of a limited edition book documenting his life and work.
