Karl Hodina

Karl Hodina was an Austrian musician and painter. Alongside artists such as Arik Brauer, Ernst Fuchs and Rudolf Hausner, he is one of the representatives of the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism.

Born in Vienna in 1935 to a tailor, Hodina trained in chemigraphy and lithography. He was fascinated by the works of the Old Masters, and painstakingly taught himself their oil-painting technique.
The subjects of his images are closely connected to memories from his childhood in Lobau - a seemingly endless source of inspiration for mythical creatures and natural elements.

His first solo exhibition took place in “Galerie 6” in Vienna’s Bäckerstraße.

He was highly successful as an illustrator, as well as in other fields.

Due to problems with his eyes, he had to give up his career as a lithographer in 1969. From then onwards he devoted himself increasingly to painting and music. In addition, he was also responsible for designing the motorway service station in Gleisdorf.

Hodina received many awards for his wide-ranging artistic oeuvre, including the Grand Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria in 2015. He died in Leopoldsdorf near Vienna on 24 March, aged 81.