Don’t Fear Girls and Flowers
- Los angeles — Hubert Schmalix, an Austrian painter known for his distinctive "anti-images," has died at the age of 72 after a long illness.
- Schmalix, who conjured his personal Elysium in his art, embraced a wide range of subjects, unafraid to depict flowers and female beauty through his unique perspective.
- Known for his strong opinions, Schmalix, who taught at the vienna Academy of Fine Arts from 1999 to 2006, was a staunch defender of his artistic vision.
Hubert Schmalix, Painter of Anti-Images, Dies at 72
Table of Contents
- Hubert Schmalix, Painter of Anti-Images, Dies at 72
- Hubert Schmalix: A life in Art
- Who was Hubert Schmalix?
- What is Hubert Schmalix best known for?
- What were Schmalix’s artistic influences and style?
- Where did Hubert Schmalix live and work?
- Where was Hubert Schmalix’s artwork exhibited?
- What themes did Hubert Schmalix explore in his art?
- What impact did Hubert Schmalix have on the art world?
- Hubert Schmalix: Key Facts
Los angeles — Hubert Schmalix, an Austrian painter known for his distinctive “anti-images,” has died at the age of 72 after a long illness.
Schmalix, who conjured his personal Elysium in his art, embraced a wide range of subjects, unafraid to depict flowers and female beauty through his unique perspective. He challenged artistic conventions, avoiding mere stylization, decoration, or the purely personal in his work.
Known for his strong opinions, Schmalix, who taught at the vienna Academy of Fine Arts from 1999 to 2006, was a staunch defender of his artistic vision. He valued dialog and debate, even when it meant confronting criticism head-on.
Often called “AustriaS Gauguin,” Schmalix sought inspiration in both the simple and the exotic. His subjects included his Filipino wife, who often served as his model, and also still lifes of broken vases, lush landscapes, and vibrant floral arrangements. He distilled these motifs into what some describe as archaic, universal images, characterized by monochrome color fields and clear outlines. While some critics have compared his style to comics, others see echoes of illustrations from Austrian Bible booklets.
Born in Graz in 1952, Schmalix relocated to Los Angeles in 1987, where he remained for the rest of his life.
In the 1980s, Schmalix rose to prominence as one of the “new wild ones,” a group of artists who shared a common background at the Vienna Art Academy, particularly the class of Maximilian melcher. Alongside Siegfried Anzinger, Herbert Brandl, and Hubert Scheibl, Schmalix became a leading figure in this expressive movement, which prioritized painting above adherence to specific styles, whether figurative or abstract.
An abandoned King
Schmalix continued to work in monumental formats, including digital motifs for the Pavilion of Styria, which can still be seen on Heldenplatz. His last oil paintings, recently exhibited at the Linz Castle Museum in a solo show titled “Tremor,” explored themes of aging and illness. In these works, Schmalix transformed these themes into simple, comic-like figures, engaging wiht the artistic trope of the bearded old man.
Schmalix’s work was also showcased in Graz in 2023, featuring his recent landscapes. He once stated that he did not consider himself a landscape painter,but rather painted landscapes that reflected his inner world rather than external reality.
Major retrospectives of Schmalix’s work were held at the BA Kunstforum in 2025 and at the Museum of Modern Art in 1994. Despite facing criticism for his artistic choices, Schmalix leaves behind a legacy of “anti-images” that have secured his place in Austrian post-war art history.
Hubert Schmalix: A life in Art
Who was Hubert Schmalix?
Hubert Schmalix (1952-2024) was an Austrian painter known for his distinctive “anti-images.” He was a leading figure in Austrian post-war art history.
What is Hubert Schmalix best known for?
Schmalix was best known for his “anti-images,” which challenged artistic conventions. His work often featured:
A wide range of subjects, including flowers, female beauty, landscapes, and still lifes.
Monochrome color fields and clear outlines.
Simple, comic-like figures, particularly in his later works.
What were Schmalix’s artistic influences and style?
Schmalix, often called “Austria’s Gauguin,” drew inspiration from both the simple and the exotic. His style is difficult to categorize but is frequently enough described as:
Archaic
Universal
Expressive
Some critics compared his style to comics, whereas others see echoes of illustrations from Austrian Bible booklets.
Where did Hubert Schmalix live and work?
Schmalix was born in Graz, Austria, in 1952. He relocated to Los Angeles in 1987 and remained there for the rest of his life.
Where was Hubert Schmalix’s artwork exhibited?
Schmalix’s work was exhibited in numerous galleries and museums worldwide.His retrospective exhibitions include:
Museum of Modern Art (1994)
BA Kunstforum (2025)
Linz Castle Museum (“Tremor,” solo show)
graz (2023)
What themes did Hubert Schmalix explore in his art?
Schmalix’s work explored a variety of themes:
Beauty
Aging and illness
His inner world
Universal images
What impact did Hubert Schmalix have on the art world?
Schmalix left a lasting impact on Austrian post-war art history. He was a staunch defender of his artistic vision and valued dialog and debate. He was one of the “new wild ones,” a group of artists who prioritized painting above adherence to specific styles.
Hubert Schmalix: Key Facts
| Feature | Details |
| :——————- | :—————————————————————————————————- |
| Born | 1952,Graz,Austria |
| Died | 2024,Los Angeles |
| Known For | “Anti-images,” expressive style,diverse subject matter.|
| Movement | “New Wild Ones” |
| Influences | Simple and exotic subjects, Gauguin |
| Notable Exhibitions | Museum of Modern Art (1994), BA Kunstforum (2025), Linz Castle Museum (“Tremor”). |