Gerhard Merz was born in Mammendorf, Germany in 1947. He lives and works in Berlin and Pescia. Among the many solo exhibitions are: Accademia Tedesca Villa Massimo, Roma (2011), Kunsthaus Bregenz (2003), Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf (2002), Kunstverein Hannover (2000) Helmhaus Zürich (1998), Kunsthaus Bregenz (1998), Padiglione Tedesco, Biennale di Venezia (1997), Kunst-Werke, Berlin (1995), Kunsthalle Basel (1995), Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf (1994), Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles (1992), Deichtorhallen, Hamburgo (1992), Kunsthalle, Hamburgo (1992), De Appel, Amsterdam (1990), Kunstverein Hannover (1990), Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago (1989), Kunsthalle Zürich, Zurigo (1989), Kunsthalle Baden-Baden (1987), Le Consortium, Dijon (1987), Kunstverein München, Monaco di Baviera (1986), Kunstverein Kassel (1984), Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh (1983), Kunstraum München (1982), Van Abbe Museum, Eindhoven (1980), Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Monaco di Baviera (1978), Kabinett für Aktuelle Kunst, Bremerhaven (1978), Kunstraum München (1975). In 1983 he won the renowned “Arnold Bode Preis”.

Professor at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf (1991-2004) and at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste in Munich (2004-2011), where he studied from 1963 to 1973.