Hans Erni

Hans Erni, known for his drawings, engravings, etchings and sculptures, was awarded the American Sport Art Museum and Archives'(ASAMA) 1988 Sport Artist of the Year Award for his contributions to the decoration of the new International Olympic Committee's new headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Erni created 29 different Olympic disciplines, plus two murals representing the Summer Olympic Games and the Winter Olympic Games. The murals were executed for the special "room of honor" at the new IOC headquarters. His perfect knowledge of sport and his artistic feelings were easily recognizable.

Born in 1909, in Lucerne, Switzerland, Erni first gained international attention when he created a 300-foot mural for the 1939 Swiss National Exhibition in Zurich. The experiment in combining abstract expressionism and realism was a turning point for the artist.

Originally trained as an architect, Erni studied at the Academie Julian in Paris and the State School of Art in Berlin. Once World War II engulfed Europe, he served as a driver in the Swiss Army Motorized Corps and worked with camouflage techniques.

After the war, he became enthused with the wonders of mankind, earning him the title of "Renaisance Man." A wide variety of work was undertaken - paintings, frescos, mosaics, tapestries, graphics - all of which expressed his interior vocation and which appeared to the painter as a message for his future works. Through posters and stamps, he has developed a wide following with the public. Today, he has designed more than 90 postage stamps for Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the United Nations. Exhibitions in Switzerland and study journeys to Africa, Asia and America have blazed the trail for his life.

In 1977, in his hometown of Lucerne, the Hans Erni Foundation was created. In 1979, within the framework of the Transport Museum, the Hans Erni Museum was inaugurated, which enables many people to admire a retrospective artist and his work.