Born Friedensrich Stowasser, internationally renowned Austrian artist Hundertwasser (1928-2000) was an architect and philosopher but was most famous for his work as a painter and printmaker. His intricately patterned art with its expressive distortions and explosive colors are based on Art Nouveau principles. Hundertwasser’s art is often compared to that of Klimt and Schiele, yet the decorative and technical characteristics of his art raises controversy among critics while being extremely popular with people. Having lost 69 Jewish relatives to the Nazis, in 1978 he designed the Peace Flag for the Near East and published his Peace Manifesto and as a result, he has been honored with Gold Medals of Honor by both Vienna and Syria.

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