Ruth Leibnitz on her 90th birthday
In memory of a Chemnitz-born artist, patron and committed supporter of young talent
Ruth Leibnitz would have been 90 years old on 30 April 2018. Who was this woman who was so generously committed to the cultural life of our city?
Ruth Leibnitz was born in Chemnitz in 1928. After the Second World War, she studied music and singing in Dresden and Leipzig before embarking on a career in opera. From 1957 to 1960, she trained as a sculptor and later studied drawing in Paris. From 1963, Ruth Leibnitz lived as a sculptor and graphic artist in Bad Nauheim, Hesse, where she died on 6 October 2011 at the age of 83.
She became internationally recognised for her drawings, graphics and sculptures. Her works have been exhibited in Europe, Africa, Asia and America and can be found in public, private and church collections. After the political changes, numerous exhibitions were also organised in her native Saxony, particularly in Chemnitz, the city of her birth.
Visitors to the city library in the TIETZ will encounter sculptures (bronzes) by Ruth Leibnitz in several areas. They have been a permanent artistic fixture for many years, inviting visitors to linger and providing food for thought.
Born in Chemnitz, the artist and patron of the arts has donated a large part of her work to many other institutions in our city, including the Neue Sächsische Galerie, the Museum of Industry, the Chemnitz Regional Council, the Jewish Community and the St Pauli Kreuz parish. In 2002, she was honoured for her extraordinary commitment to her hometown with an entry in the city's "Golden Book".
Promoting the creativity of young people was particularly close to Ruth Leibnitz's heart. In order to support younger artists in her native Saxony, she founded the Ruth Leibnitz Prize, which was awarded every two years from 1996 to 2006. She also patronised writing and poster competitions.
During her lifetime, Ruth Leibnitz stipulated that part of her legacy should be invested in the city library to support young people. Thanks to her support, the Chemnitz City Library was able to transform the former reading room into a multifunctional learning space. Whether for individual reading and working or for class and group tours such as the "Infofahndern 2.0", where visitors take a tablet on a discovery tour through the city library, the room is very well used every day.