The Academy Mourns the Passing of Franz Xaver Ölzant (1934–2026)

Sculptor Franz Xaver Ölzant, who taught as a professor of sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna from 1986 to 2001, passed away on October 15, 2026, at the age of 91.
Ölzant was born in 1934 in Oberzeiring, Styria, and studied at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna from 1955 to 1958. From 1978 to 1982, he continued his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, where he later held a professorship.

His work is characterized by a distinctive formal language inspired by the diverse manifestations of nature. Through his exploration of materials such as stone, wood, plaster, and bronze, Ölzant developed organic-looking, abstract sculptures that straddle the line between natural forms and ornamentation.  

With his distinctive body of work and his long career as a teacher, he provided significant impetus to the Austrian art scene.