Alexander Hollweg Journeys in Art
For almost fifty years Alexander Hollweg lived and worked at Nettlecombe on the edge of Somerset’s Brendon Hills. During the 1970s this remote and beautiful place became a magnet for creative people of many kinds, and it was there that Hollweg, together with his wife Geraldine, built a life centred around family, community, music and art.
Hollweg’s distinctive artworks translate the everyday into surprising, often humorous, responses to the modern world. Landscape is an enduring theme – ‘farm, factory, city and housing estate, the places where people, live and work and play’.
An exhibition celebrating his life and work took place at The Museum of Somerset from 14 November 2023 to 9 March 2024. It was the largest exhibition of Hollweg’s work that has ever been staged.
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EARLY LIFE
The early life and schooling of Alexander Hollweg.
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CAMBERWELL SCHOOL OF ART AND CRAFT
Hollweg was heavily influenced by his time at Camberwell School of Art and Craft.
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FAMILY, WORK AND PLACE
In 1962 Alexander Hollweg married Geraldine James, and together they made their first home.
Contains an image: In this painting Geraldine is shown asleep at Bedford Park.
WHITECHAPEL GALLERY EXHIBITION
In 1971 Hollweg’s earliest solo exhibition was held at the Whitechapel Gallery in London.
Contains an image: Image showing one of Hollweg's toy car artworks.
CITY AND COUNTRY
In 1973 the Hollwegs moved permanently to Nettlecombe.
Contains an image: Poster for Exhibition at The Kornblee Gallery, New York.
A LANGUAGE IN WOOD AND PAINT
Hollweg began creating large-scale relief artworks made of wood, wire and paint.
Contains an image: Yarde depicts in wood and paint the landscape of a small hamlet just over the hill from Nettlecombe.
PEOPLE
In the 1980s, Hollweg sought new ways to make people central to his art.
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GEOMETRY AND ABSTRACTION
In 2000 Hollweg accepted his largest and most ambitious commission.
Contains an image: This watercolour returns to some of the imagery of Hollweg’s earlier work.