Artist Biography & Facts

Klaus Ihlenfeld

The following information was submitted in September of 2006 by his son Paul V. Ihlenfeld and updated December 2017

Klaus Karl Otto IhlenfeldHe was born in Berlin, Germany in 1934. He studied art at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste and completed graduate work with the metal sculptor Hans Uhlmann.  He visited the US in 1957 for the first time living in Durham, NC, where he befriended Dr. W. R. Valentiner, the Rembrandt authority and Director of the Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC.  Through this friendship in 1960 he met and worked with the metal sculptor Harry Bertoia in Barto, PA. 

He joined the Staempfli Gallery in NYC and entered in many group and one-man shows. He has been an Artist-in-Residence in Ogden, Utah; Huntington Museum of Art in West Virginia, Penn State University at University Park; the Colorado State University in Denver; and Shippensburg University.  He has large commissions at Kutztown University, Pottstown Hospital, and a monumental relief sculpture at the Emigrant Savings Bank in NYC.  He has traveled extensively in Spain, Greece, and Mexico.  He is living and working on a farm in Barto, PA welding bronze and forged iron metal sculptures and painting watercolors.

Group Shows:
North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, NC - 1957
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City - 1962
Staempfli Gallery in New York City - 1962, 1964 and 1965
Gallery Ludwig Lange in West Berlin, Germany - 1977
Gallery Herbert Remmert and Dr. Barth in Dusseldorf in West Germany - 1981
Jack Savitt Gallery in Macungie, PA - 1981 and 1984
Heinz Ortleb Gallery, West Berlin, Germany - 1992
Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce Show at the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, PA - 1997
Berks Art Alliance Show at the Reading Art Museum in Reading, PA - 1997
Mayfair Festival of the Arts at the Allentown Art Museum - 1998
Baum School of Art in Allentown, PA - 1997
Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center Art Show in Pennsburg, PA - 2001
Reading Public Museum in Reading PA, 2014

Solo Shows:
Kutztown University in Kutztown, PA - 1960 and 1965
Allentown Art Museum in Allentown, PA - 1960 and 1961
Staempfli Gallery in New York City - 1962
Penn State University in University Park, PA - 1964 and 1972
Berks Art Alliance in Wyomissing, PA - 1966
Bertha Eccles Art Center in Ogden, Utah - 1967
Mansfield University in Mansfield, PA - 1967
Huntington Museum of Art in Huntington, WV - 1971
Shippensburg University in Shippensburg, PA - 1972
Albright College in Reading, PA - 1973
Ianuzzi Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ - 1974
Gallery Heimat 85 in West Berlin, Germany - 1977
Jack Savitt Gallery in Macungie, PA - 1981
College Misericordia in Dallas, PA - 1983
Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center in Pennsburg, PA, 2013

Periodical Reference:
Kaye, Ellen "The Obsessive Collector," Philadelphia Inquirer Sunday Magazine Sptember 21, 1986 pp. 32-33.

Chronology:
1-30-1934 Born in Berlin, Germany.  Father, Kurt Ihlenfeld, Lutheran pastor, novelist, critic and publisher was born in 1901 in Colmar, Alsace Lorain.  Mother, Annie Stuhlmann, was born in 1905 in Breslau, Lower Silesia.

1940 - 1950  Public schools in Berlin; Löwen, Lower Silesia; Coswig, Radebeul, Glaubitz, Saxony.  Königin Luise-Gymnasium in Dahlem, Berlin.  First artworks, drawings and paintings; few sculptures.

1950 - 1956  Studied at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste in West Berlin, Germany.  Graduate work with metal sculptor Hans Uhlmann.  For 2 years maintained own studio at the Academy.  Friendship with writer Günter Grass, and painter F. S. Sonnenstern.  Met painters: Max Pechstein, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, Carl Hofer, Max Kaus, and sculptors: Bernhard Heiliger, Renee Sintenis, and Richard Scheibe.  Opened own gallery in the Kurfürstendam area of Berlin.

1954  Traveled to West Germany, France, Barcelona, Spain (Balearic Islands), and Menorca for 3 months.

1957  First visit to the United States in Durham, NC.  Participated in a group show at the Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC.  Friendship with Dr. W. R. Valentiner, the Rembrandt authority and Director of the Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC.  Work with metal sculptor Harry Bertoia in Bally, PA.  Started own metal sculptures in Bertoia Studio.  Traveled to Mexico and throughout the US.  Visited Monte Alban, and Mitla-Oaxaca.  Started collecting works of pre-Columbian art.  Also African and South Pacific works of art and the works of children.
 
1958  Returned to West Berlin, Germany to open own workshop and gallery.  Cooperation with his brother Bertram Ihlenfeld and brother-in-law, violinist Heinz Ortleb.  Precise metal sculptures in various medias.

1959:  Motion picture of the development of sculptures: Spiel in Stahl (Play in Steel), filmed by Dr. Hans Cürlis shown at the Bergamo Film Festival in Italy, in West Germany, and German Embassies in South America.

1960  Second visit to the United States.  Cooperation with sculptor Harry Bertoia in Bally, PA.  Friendship with Brigitta Valentiner Bertoia. Worked on large commissions.  Met painter Willem DeKoonig, gallerist Georg W. Staempfli in New York City, and furniture maker George Nakashima in New Hope, PA.  First one-man show of sculptures at Kutztown State College, Kutztown, PA.  One-man show of sculptures at the Allentown Museum of Art under Director Hirsch.

1961  Traveled and studied archeological sites in Mexico (Monte Alban, Mitla-Oaxaca; Colima, Nayarit, Sinaloa, Patzcuaro, etc.). Collected pre-Columbian art in Mexico and New York City.  Second one-man show at the Allentown Museum of Art (sculptures) under Director Caldwell.

1962  One-man show at Staempfli Gallery in New York City.  Participated in various group shows at the gallery:  "Twenty Sculptors" and "Recent Acquisitions".  Met artists Marcel Duchamp and Salvador Dali; sculptors Alexander Calder and Alexander Lieberman.  Participated in a major exhibition at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City entitled "Modern Sculpture from the Joseph H. Hirshhorn Collection".

1963  Married Patricia A. Lambert of Springfield, PA. Harry Bertoia was their best man.

1964  One-man show at the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA and a group show "Stone, Wood and Metal" at Staemplfi Gallery in New York City.  First child, Paul Vincent born.

1965  Entered group show at Staempfli Gallery "Stone and Crystal".  One-man show of graphics at Kutztown State Teachers College in Kutztown, PA.  One-man show at Wyomissing Art Alliance, Reading, PA.

1966  Commissioned for a fountain sculpture at Kutztown State Teachers College, Kutztown, PA.  Birth of twins, Phillip Sydney and Naomi Andrea.

1967  Artist-in-Residence at the Bertha Eccles Art Center, Ogden, Utah (received a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts).  Met sculptor Larry Elsner.  One-man show at Mansfield State College, Mansfield, PA.  Fourth child born, Douglas Robinson.

1968 - 1969  Commissioned to create a large relief sculpture for the Emigrant Savings Bank at 5 East 42nd Street in Manhattan, New York City entitled: Heavenly Bodies, 250 ft. X 32 ft. (weighing 8 tons).  Moved to the estate "Iron Masters Mansion", Barto, PA.

1970 - 1971  Artist-in-Residence at the Huntington Museum of Art, Huntington, WV (received a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts). One-man show at the Huntington Museum of Art.  A movie was made of the exhibition by the Huntington Television Station.  Met A. Moretti, sculptor of glass figures.  One-man show at the old Sears and Roebuck mansion in Haverford, PA.

1971 - 1972  Artist-in-Residence at the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (received a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts).  Classes for drawing and experimental sculpture.  One-man show at the Chambers Building and the Hetzel Union Building. Also Artist-in-Residence at Shippensburg State College, Shippensburg, PA.  Commissioned to execute a sculpture for the new Library at the Shippensburg State College.  Death of father, Kurt Ihlenfeld.

1973  Invitation to lecture and work with sculpture classes at Colorado State University, Denver, Colorado.  One-man show at Albright College, Reading, PA.

1974 - 1976  Years of increased studies and work. Acquisition of a farm in Barto, PA. Built a new workshop. Works and lives with his wife and four children at the Barto, PA farm.  New sculptures in iron, bronze, brass and wood.  Traveled to Belgium, West Germany and Switzerland.  One-man show at Gallery Heimat 85, West Berlin, Germany.  One-man show at the Ianuzzi Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona.  Friendship with sculptor Tom Althouse and paintress Jane Mitchell.

1977 - 1981  Traveled to West Berlin.  Works exhibited at Gallery Heimat 85, West Berlin.  Also exhibited at Gallery Ludwig Lange.  New workshop opened at parent's house in West Berlin.  Many sculptures in steel, iron and bronze, some are represented at the Gallery Herbert Remmert and Dr. Barth, Düsseldorf, West Germany.  Visited the Island of Korfu in Greece.  New graphics.  First visit to Italy.  A fire at the farm destroyed two buildings, also 38 sculptures (created from 1950 to 1979), reliefs, graphics, correspondences, and various art collections.

1981 - 1984  One-man show and group shows at the Jack Savitt Gallery, Macungie, PA.  One-man show at Misericordia College, Dallas, PA.

1984 - 1985  Change of direction.  Painting in watercolor dominates sculptural work.  Also greater interest in collecting other artists' work.  One-man show at the James A. Caplan estate in Villanova, PA.

1989  Represented in the June 1989 Colonial Homes magazine. The article and photographs described the artist's life and his collections.

1992  Traveled to Europe, mainly living and working in Germany and Belgium.  One-man show in Liegé, Belgium.  Sculptures, drawings and paintings shown at the Heinz Ortleb Gallery, Berlin.  Death of mother, Annie Ihlenfeld, in Berlin.

1994 - 1996  Restored a large barn at the farm with his son Phillip for extensive art collections and completed  sculptures.  Created sculpture garden at farm.

1996  Created many new bronze and brass sculptures during the winter months.  Participated in the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce Sculpture Show.  Study tour to Bermuda with his wife.  The semi-tropical plants and landscapes inspired new works.

1997:  Traveled, study-tour, to St. Lucia, near Martinique, in the West Indies with his wife.  This tropical environment was most inspiring. Participated in the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce Sculpture Show at the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown from June 13 to September 7, 1997.

1998  Entered the Berks County Art Alliance juried art show in the fall at the Reading Art Museum, Reading, PA.

1999  Travels and studies with family members of ruins near Oaxaca City, Oaxaca, Mexico (Monte Alban, Mitla, Dainzu, Teotitlan del Valle, Lambityeco, San Jose El Mogote, Yagul), the Rufino Tamayo Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, and the Regional Museum of Anthropology in Oaxaca City, in May.  This is one of the most productive years in metal sculpting - forged iron and steel (many large scale works) all welded, new watercolors and art acquisitions.

2000  Sculptures entered in the Baum School Art Auction, Allentown, PA.
 
2001  Entered a group show of sculpture and paintings at the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center, Pennsburg, PA. Continues to create new sculptures in iron, bronze, brass and wood.  Also has continued to produce a wide variety of watercolor & other graphics large and small.

2002  Study tour to the Key West, Cozumel, Tulum, Belize and Nassau. Continues to produce many sculptures in bronze and iron.

2003 - 2004  Visited Niagara Falls, the Finger Lakes, Thousand Islands, Rockport, Maine and Concord, Massachusetts.  Many inspirations for water colors and sculptures. 

2005 - Exploring Maryland during the summer.  First grandchild born in July, which was an extraordinary event.  Painting many watercolors and continuing to work in forged iron. 

2006
Sculptures entered in the PA Sinfonia Orchestra Art Auction, Allentown, PA.  Continues to produce a wide variety of watercolors and bronze sculptures.  Acquired over 200 African artifacts.  Sculptures sold at David Rago Auctions in Lambertville, NJ.
 
2007-2008
Sculptures entered in the Baum School of Art Auction, Allentown, PA.  Second grandchild born in July 2008 which was another spectacular event.  Continues to produce a wide variety of watercolors, forged iron, and bronze sculptures.  Acquired many old African artifacts.  Sculptures sold at Sanford Alderfer Auctions in Hatfield, PA, and David Rago Auctions in Lambertville, NJ.
 
2009-2012
Exploring and enjoying Maryland and "Amish-land" Lancaster, PA locations during the summer.  Continues to produce a wide variety of watercolors, jewelry, mixed-media, forged iron, and bronze sculptures.  Sculptures sold at David Rago Auctions in Lambertville, NJ; Skinner Auctions in Boston; Wright in Chicago; Sotheby's in New York City (the Robert Isabell collection); Galerie Bassenge, Berlin, Germany; Samuel T. Freeman & Co, Philadelphia, PA; Alderfer Auctions in Hatfield, PA; and others from many collectors of his sculptures.

2013
Sculptures, combined with selections from his collection of African, American Indian, South Pacific and Pre-Columbian works of art are exhibited at the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center in Pennsburg, PA from June 30 to September 29.  His decades-long collection of art from all corners of the globe is a perfect complement to his organic modernist sculpture.
 
2014
A major exhibit at the Reading Public Museum in Reading, PA from February 8 to May 11 entitled "Ihlenfeld/Bertoia: an Artistic Friendship". The exhibition includes more than 60 works from all stages of Ihlenfeld's career including examples made from welded bronze and found objects. Additional works on paper and sculpture by Harry Bertoia help tell the story of collaboration and artistic influence.
 
 
INSTITUTIONAL COLLECTIONS
Everhart Museum of Art, Scranton, PA
Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA
Misericordia College, Dallas, PA
Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, D.C.
Huntington Museum, Huntington, W. Virginia
Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA
Penn State University, University Park, PA
Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts
Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, University of Oregon, Eugene

Partial List of Collections in the US and Europe:
The Late Vice President Nelson A. Rockefeller, Albany, NY; Joseph H. Hirshhorn, Washington, DC; Cultural Ambassador, Dr. Bruno E. Werner, Washington, DC; J. David Thompson, Pittsburgh, PA; Billy Wilder, Hollywood, CA; Ambassador Ferguson, Washington, DC; Dr. W. R. Valentiner, Raleigh, NC; Harry Bertoia and Brigitta Valentiner Bertoia, Barto, PA; David Steine, New York City; William A. and Muriel Rand, New York City; Robert Sarnoff, Jr., New York City; Georg W. Staempfli Gallery, New York City; Neiman Marcus, Dallas, TX; Sol Brody, Philadelphia, PA; Jack and Muriel Wolgin, Philadelphia, PA; Phillip and Muriel Berman, Allentown, PA; James Caplan, Villanova, PA; Anatol Holt, Milan, Italy; Houston Scott, Newport, RI; Mara Ianuzzi Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ; Bertram Ihlenfeld, Monterey, CA; Interstate Container Corporation, New York City; Robert Forsyth, Denver, CO; Dr. Howard Sokol, Pottstown, PA; Dr. Spencer Richmond, Pottstown, PA; Jon Harris Insurance Company, New York City; American Republic Insurance Company, New York City; Larry Katz, Philadelphia, PA; Curtis Brooks, Connecticut; Dr. Jerry Dersch, Reading, PA; Frank Mininni, Cincinnati, OH; Jack Savitt Gallery, Macungie, PA; Pearl Fox Gallery, Philadelphia, PA; Morris and Robin Satinsky, Villanova, PA; Hans Newman, Caracas, Venezuela; Dr. Emile Leclercq, Liegé, Belgium; Chester A. Beatty, London, England; The Laventhol Family, California; Wolfgang Boetcher, Berlin, Germany; Peter Oettel, Berlin, Germany

Addendum by a family member:
1.  DVD titled "Play in Steel" Spiel in Stahl filmed in Berlin Germany in 1959. This is a documentary directed and filmed by Dr. Hans Curlis and his brother Otto Curlis, Berlin, Germany.  They have made films of Hans Uhlmann - sculptor, Bernhard Heiliger - sculptor, Alexander Calder - sculptor, and Wassily Kandinsky - painter.  The film shows the artist at work in his studio creating metal sculptures and also viewing his sculptures in a Berlin gallery.  The documentary was shown at the Bergamo Italy film festival and German embassies in Europe.  The DVD is 30 minutes long and in the German language.

2.  DVD titled "Klaus Ihlenfeld Interview" by Scott Schweigert, curator of art at the Reading Public Museum, Reading, PA.  This interview was in conjunction with the "Ihlenfeld/Bertoia: an Artistic Friendship" exhibit in 2014. There were 60 sculptures and artworks of Ihlenfeld and Bertoia.  The DVD is 42 minutes long.
 

Klaus Ihlenfeld studied from 1950 to 1956 at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste in his native city of Berlin.  His teacher was the German sculptor Hans Uhlmann.  1957 Ihlenfeld traveled for the first time to the United States, where he worked with the sculptor Harry Bertoia and also created his own metal sculptures.  In 1958 he returned to Germany.

Since 1960 Ihlenfeld lives and works in the US, today in Barto, Pennsylvania.  Klaus Ihlenfeld is known for his forged and welded sculptures of bronze, iron, brass or steel, which display mostly vegetal forms.  But his body of work also includes many watercolors, graphic art or jewelry. (lvp)