Franz Wohlfahrt, Vienna - MEET THE COLLECTOR Series Part Twenty Four

I met Franz Wohlfahrt for the first time at the Outsider Art Fair in Paris in 2019. It’s been interesting to learn more about his collection that features many of the Gugging artists. Read on to find out more in part twenty four of my ‘meet the collector’ series …

Franz in front of Johann Fischer, Ein vollwärtiger Mann

1. When did your interest in the field of outsider/folk art begin?
I became deeply touched and interested in Art Brut when I visited the Gugging Art Brut Center in 2008 and met there some of Gugging Artists in their unique and special environment.

2. When did you become a collector of this art?  How many pieces do you think are in your collection now?
With the recommendations and advice of the director of the Galerie Gugging, Nina Katschnig, I started in 2008 in building a small but fine - state of the art - collection of works from Gugging’s artists, which I enriched during the time with works of other internationally recognized artists of art brut. Currently my collection contains about 300 works of Art Brut artists.

Three woman of Johann Hauser hanging together at Gugging

3. Can you tell us a bit about your background?
Born in 1959 in Austrian´s southern province of Carintha , I studied Law at the University in Vienna where I  practised as a Lawyer. I also was actice as the CEO of an industrial company with global activities. Currently I am running a small enterprise in the real estate and consulting business based in Vienna. I enjoy nature, music, tennis and all forms of culture, esp. visual arts (mainly Art Brut and Outsider Art, but also Austrian Contemporary Art.

4. What is it that draws your eye away from contemporary art to outsider/folk art? Or do you collect both?
I collect both, the focus however lies on Art Brut, which touches me mostly.

5. What style of work, if any, is of particular interest to you within this field? (for example is it embroidery, drawing, sculpture, and so on)
I am primarily interested in drawings and sculptures.

6. Would you say you had a favourite artist or piece of work within your collection? And why?
My favorite Art Brut works are three drawings of Johann Hauser ("Hauser`s woman") which I acquired from a collector based in England and which I donated on free loan to Gugging Museum. These works are really masterpieces from one of Gugging’s most famous artist.

Sam Doyle, Try Me

7. Is there an exhibition in this field of art that you have felt has been particularly important? And why?
The regular exhibitions of the Museum Gugging and of Galerie Gugging are the most inspiring ones for me, because of their professional focus on the "real" Art Brut world, nationally and internationally. I also visit the OAF in NYC and Paris and the Drawing Now Art Fair in Paris.

8. Are there any people within this field that you feel have been particularly important to pave the way for where the field is at now?
There are many highly involved and inspiring people (museum directors, gallery runners, exhibition makers, collectors, art historians, etc.) active worldwide in the field of Art Brut and Outsider Art. Building global networks is very enriching for me.

9. Where would you say you buy most of your work from: a studio, art fairs, exhibitions, auctions, or direct from artists? And do you exhibit any of it on the walls of your home or elsewhere?
The most part of my collection I am buying from galleries, during and outside of their exhibitions and at art fairs, where they exhibit.

10. What did you think of the outsider scene in Austria and does it have much prominence there?
Thanks to the outstanding and innovative work of Johann Feilacher (Director of Museum Gugging) and Nina Katschnig (Director of Galerie Gugging) Art Brut has a very good reputation and presence in the Austrian Cultural scene.

Bill Traylor, Woman