Artist Database

Distinguished South African sculptor, Peter Schütz, was born in Germany but spent most of his life in South Africa after his family emigrated in the early 1950s. His initial studies in art were at the Natal Technical College where he was trained and mentored by sculptors Mary Stainbank and James Hall, from whom he received a strong technical grounding, particularly in direct wood carving. This was to become Schütz’s primary sculptural technique. Schütz subsequently completed his honours and master’s degrees in Fine Art through the University of Natal. Schütz is best known for his meticulously hand-carved and colourful wooden sculptures, influenced by his interest in ancient cultures, the human figure, natural history, religion, and poetry.

Schütz taught sculpture for many years at the Technikon Natal in Durban and the University of Witwatersrand. In 1984, he received the Standard Bank Young Artist Award and the Gold Medal in the 1988 Cape Town Triennial for his sculpture Night Dialogue. He represented South Africa in Chile and Morocco at official presentations.

Schütz is included in major public collections in South Africa, such as the Durban Art Museum and Johannesburg Art Gallery, and in the United States of America, namely the Chase Manhattan Bank.