Hr. Grasfurthner AVE Sbg. (2009) Painting by August Di Lena

August Di Lena is a contemporary artist born in 1963 in ont, Styria. His artistic journey began while he was serving in the Federal Army, where he participated in a distance learning course at an art school in Hamburg. During this time, he held his first exhibitions, showcasing paintings in a surreal style.

After his military service, Di Lena retrained as a mechanical draftsman and product designer in Linz, Upper Austria. From 1996 to 2014, he was an active member of the Wels Artists' Guild, participating in exhibitions both at home and abroad. His works span a variety of styles, predominantly surrealism and fantastic realism, utilizing oil pastels, pastels, and mixed watercolor techniques. He is also known for his caricatures, scratchboard art, collages, and digital prints, as well as more recent pieces created with acrylic on canvas and various mixed techniques.

Di Lena has engaged in live performances as a caricaturist in various locations, including Wels, Weitra, St. Pölten, Schwanenstadt, and Munich. In 2004, he participated in significant exhibitions in Buchkirchen, Mondsee, and Kirchdorf alongside other artists and the Wald4tler dialect group "Stoahoat und Bazwoach." Notably, during an event in Bad Ischl, he caricatured the heads of 260 participants in a nationwide curling competition over the course of two days.

Between 2006 and 2010, Di Lena presented a major exhibition series titled "Blick

Wels," which spanned five years. This series featured portraits of celebrities from politics, art, and culture in Wels and highlighted fellow citizens who had made significant contributions to the community. In 2015, he held a major retrospective in Wels, showcasing all his techniques and styles.

In 2022, he presented the exhibition "Rockheroes & More" at the Nöttling NÖFA gallery in Wels and at the Nöttling gallery in Linz (formerly Eigl). The vernissage took place in Wels, featuring 79 artworks on the theme, alongside 18 works displayed in Linz. Rudi Hutterer contributed to the exhibition with his remarkable wooden creations, adding a unique dimension to the overall presentation. Through his diverse artistic expression, August Di Lena continues to leave a significant mark in the contemporary art scene.

• Nationality: AUSTRIA
• Date of birth : 1963
• Artistic domains:
• Groups: Contemporary Austrian Artists