Maria Biljan-Bilger

Maria Biljan-Bilger (1912–1997) was an Austrian ceramist, sculptor and textile artist. A prominent female artist in the male-dominated post-war period, she is remembered as a co-founder of the Vienna Art Club in 1947 and as a professor of ceramics at the University of Applied Arts Vienna (1978–92). In the 1950s, she was successful in receiving a number of commissions from the city of Vienna for art works and memorials in public spaces. Inspired by the folk culture of southern and eastern Europe, her works were exhibited at the Venice and São Paulo biennials.

Early life, education and family Born on 21 January 1912 in Radstadt, Maria Biljan-Bilger was raised in Graz where her father Daniel Biljan (1872–1942) was a master over maker. From 1927 to 1931 she attended the Arts and Crafts School (Kunstgewerbeschule) in Graz where she studied ceramics under Hans Adametz. During this period, she worked on her large stone sculptures.

Maria Biljan-Bilger died in Munich, Germany, on 1 May 1997.