Willy Verginer is a renowned Italian contemporary sculptor known for his masterful wooden sculptures. Born in 1957 in Bressanone, Italy, he currently lives and works in Ortisei. Raised in Val Gardena—a region celebrated for its long-standing woodcarving tradition—Verginer studied painting at the Art Institute of Ortisei before beginning his career in local woodcarving workshops, where he developed a solid foundation in traditional craftsmanship.

In the 1980s, Verginer began moving away from traditional carving, exploring a more personal and abstract sculptural language. Around 2005, his artistic style underwent a significant transformation as he turned to figurative sculpture, combining precise woodcarving with vivid acrylic painting. This distinctive approach has since become his hallmark, blending realism and surrealism in a visually striking manner.

Verginer’s works often feature human and animal figures imbued with poetic and ironic undertones, reflecting on the human condition, the relationship between humanity and nature, and the environmental challenges of contemporary life. By partially immersing his sculptures in bold blocks of color or graphic patterns, he creates a tension between the real and the surreal—evoking both visual harmony and conceptual depth.

His artistic achievements have gained international recognition, with exhibitions held at major museums and galleries around the world. In 2011, Verginer represented the Trentino-Alto Adige region at the 54th Venice Biennale. He has also developed a close connection with Asia, presenting his works at Art Taipei and collaborating with AKI Gallery in Taiwan, where he held his first solo exhibition in the region, The Lost Garden, in 2022.