Werner Pfeiffer

Werner Pfeiffer is a German-American printmaker, painter, designer, sculptor and collage artist, born in Stuttgart, Germany. He immigrated to the United States in 1961. His design work and positions as art director won him numerous awards from the likes of the New York Art Directors Club and New York Type Directors Club. He also taught at Pratt Institute for a time and was director of the Pratt Adlib Press.

Pfeiffer has a particular love for paper and books... and tearing them apart in the name of art. Growing up in Germany during World War II, he witnessed books being burned and desecrated in the name of censorship, something that left a lingering effect on his spirit, and creativity. Such a destructive atmosphere made him love paper even more, and though he may rip books apart, he does so in a symbolic manner, meant to draw importance to their existence. "Paper was scarce; paper was burned. I didn't even know paper existed, so, later, it became beautiful to me," Pfeiffer once said. "My work is part game, part readings, part artistic expression."

Pfeiffer has been showcased more than 70 solo exhibitions and over 100 group exhibitions in the US, Canada, Europe and South America.