Cathrin Pichler

Cathrin Pichler studied journalism, art history, sociology and psychology as well as communication theory and information aesthetics.

From 1977 to 1982, she was a project manager at the Institute for Conflict Research in Vienna. She then worked as a freelancer at the same institute until 1985. During this time, she also worked at the Institute for Demography at the Academy of Sciences. From 1992 to 1994, together with Robert Fleck, she was the first Federal Curator of Art under the then Minister Rudolf Scholten. In 1995, she was appointed Chief Curator of the Kunsthalle Wien. After two years, she gave up this post as she did not harmonise with the working methods of the new director, Gerald Matt. She subsequently remained a freelance curator and taught at several universities.

In 2002, together with Hans Peter Litscher, she brought together the largest art collection on Antonin Artaud to date at the Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien (mumok). Her last exhibition was in autumn 2010 The Moderns - Revolutions in Art and Science 1890-1935.

In March 2012, Pichler, who was already seriously ill at the time, was honoured with the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art I. Class excellent. On 29 June 2012, she succumbed to her illness at the age of 66.

In 2005, Cathrin Pichler curated the annual theme at the Kreisky Forum WHY WAR?