On the death of Berlin sculptor Michael Klein
November 5, 1943 – February 4, 2022
On February 4, 2022, the sculptor Michael Klein died at the age of 78. He was still working on several commissions until the end. In 1985, he created the two high reliefs Bettina von Arnim and Achim von Arnim for Schloss Wiepersdorf, which will be on display again in the castle's museum in the future.
Born and raised in Berlin, Michael Klein ran his own studio for decades – initially in Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg, later in Marzahn and finally in Neuenhagen near Berlin. After an apprenticeship as a wood sculptor, he studied sculpture in the 1960s at the Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weißensee with Heinrich Drake, Ludwig Engelhardt and Karl-Heinz Schamal. Many portraits, torsos, reliefs, medals and large sculptures were created, which can be seen in public spaces in Berlin and Brandenburg. The "Debutante for Friedrich-Wilhelm-August Fröbel" on Fröbelplatz looks towards Alexanderplatz, the Pelikan sculpture with the commemorative plaque honoring Huguenots can be seen in the entrance area of the Charité, the monument "For Bettina and Achim von Arnim" and the fountain "Bettina's Bank" are located on Arnimplatz in Berlin. Other sculptures can be found in numerous public places and in art collections, such as the National Gallery in Berlin.
