Dynamis 3, Dynamis

1945–1960

First exhibitions: Kleve, Kranenburg, Wuppertal

In his early years Beuys showed watercolours and sketches at the Kleve Artists Association's annual exhibition in the Villa Koekkoek, had a solo show at the home of Hans and Franz Joseph van der Grinten in Kranenburg, and took part in a show at the Von der Heydt Museum in Wuppertal.

1958

A design for the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial

In 1958 Beuys took part in the international competition for the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial; his proposal did not win and was never realised.

1959

Marries Eva Wurmbach

In 1959 Beuys married Eva Wurmbach; the couple had two children.

1960s

Forms the idea of “social sculpture”

Drawing on Novalis and Schiller and on Rudolf Steiner's ideas of social threefolding, Beuys developed the concept of social sculpture: society as a whole is one great work of art to which everyone can contribute creatively (“everyone is an artist”).

1961

Professor of monumental sculpture in Düsseldorf

In 1961 Beuys was appointed professor of monumental sculpture at the Düsseldorf Kunstakademie; his students included Jörg Immendorff, Blinky Palermo, Sigmar Polke and Katharina Sieverding.

1962

Friendship with Nam June Paik and first steps in Fluxus

In 1962 Beuys befriended his Düsseldorf colleague Nam June Paik, a member of Fluxus, which began his brief formal involvement with the movement; he viewed art's economic and institutional framework differently from the others, however.