Austrian actor Juergen Maurer is revealing a previously unknown side of his creativity as his paintings and drawings go on public display for the first time at Galerie Gugging. The exhibition, titled "curated by juergen maurer – höchst persönlich" (highly personal), will run through the end of January 2026 and features works by both Maurer and his longtime artistic companion Peter Krawagna.
The exhibition is part of Galerie Gugging's "curated-by" series, which launched in 2017 and is now entering its fifth edition with Maurer. This unique program invites prominent personalities to curate their own exhibitions featuring works by Gugging artists, creating fresh perspectives and new artistic dialogues. The concept aims to bridge different creative worlds and offer audiences unexpected artistic encounters.
The idea for Maurer's exhibition emerged after he gave a Christmas reading at the gallery in December 2023. What wasn't known at the time was that Maurer, who dropped out of his graphic design studies at Vienna's Academy of Fine Arts in the mid-1980s, had never stopped creating art. Despite his successful acting career, he continued to paint and draw in private, keeping his visual artwork largely hidden from public view.
Maurer himself explains the vulnerability he feels about his visual art compared to his acting work. "While I have no fear of confronting critics as an actor, painting feels different," he revealed in a gallery statement. "Why this part of my creative work is so sensitive, I don't know. So I've been sitting on what has painted and drawn itself out of me over the years." This candid admission highlights the deeply personal nature of his visual art practice.
Galerie Gugging Director Nina Katschnig expressed excitement about finally being able to present Maurer's works publicly for the first time. "The title of the exhibition is not due to vanity, but a revelation from the innermost of the artist, who is not only an actor through and through, but also a master of dramaturgy," Katschnig noted. She emphasized that Maurer presents not only his artistic development and journey but also reveals who has accompanied and shaped him along the way.
The exhibition creates fascinating juxtapositions by pairing Maurer's personal artistic influences with works by Gugging artists as well as national and international colleagues. Visitors can view finger paintings by French Art Brut artist Michel Nedjar alongside woodcuts by Herbert Brunner. The show also features works by Swiss artist François Burland, Carinthian painter Peter Krawagna, and Gugging artist Helmut Hladisch, creating a rich tapestry of different artistic approaches and styles.
Gugging's own artistic community is strongly represented through works by Laila Bachtiar, Günther Schützenhöfer, Leonard Fink, and Jürgen Tauscher. David Staretz, described as another longtime companion in Maurer's artistic journey, also has his work featured in the exhibition. This careful curation reflects Maurer's deep connections within the art world and his appreciation for the diverse voices that have influenced his own creative development.
The exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the private artistic world of a public figure, revealing decades of creative work that Maurer had kept largely to himself. By choosing to finally share these intimate creations, Maurer demonstrates the courage required to expose one's most personal artistic expressions to public scrutiny. The show will remain on view at Galerie Gugging until January 30, 2026, giving visitors ample opportunity to discover this hidden dimension of the accomplished actor's creative life.
