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From 1984 - 1988 Reiterer studied graphic art at the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna, with Professor Maximilian Melcher. He is Member of Forum Stadtpark, Graz, member of Secession, Vienna, and member of Deutscher Künstlerbund. In 1991, the artist exhibited his works at Neue Galerie, Graz. In 1994, he participated in the graphic biennale in Zagreb, and in 1996, his works were exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. From 1995 to 2004, he realized many “Art for Architecture” projects and designed the pediatric surgery department of the university hospital in Graz.
From the mid-80ies, Werner Reiterer’s position as an artist can be considered as an audacious tightrope walk, in which he thematized phenomena inherent to the ephemeral, immaterial, and combined them with the concept of sculpture. He has succeeded in developing an accurate, personal language of forms which he has since then formulated in a conclusive manner through his innovative sculptural concepts. Subtle ironical distance, wittiness or a radical reduction of means characterize his dealing with objects of everyday life, which he uses with stunning ease in his works in order to challenge and shift paradigms of meanings and viewing habits. His works signal that they are ready for a dialogue with the beholder.
Reiterer is above all interested in tackling unsolvable problems and his often playful works invite us to think things over. Above all, the quality of Reiterer’s internationally renowned projects in public space should be underlined: they are always related to the significance of the site and integrate the beholder or user of the works of art into their conceptual function modes. Man here is understood as “living sculptural material”, working as an essential part of the work of art.
In 1990, Werner Reiterer was awarded the “Kunstpreis” of the Province of Styria, in 1992, the first prize of the International Biennial of Cairo, and in 1996, the Austrian State Grant. In 2002, Reiterer obtained the “Kunstpreis” of the City of Graz. The world-wide famous artist has exhibited in many cities such as Vienna, Rotterdam, London, Los Angeles, Düsseldorf, Hannover, Brussels and Kassel.