About the Artist

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  • Alternate Name(s) Wilhelm Otto Zielke (Birth Name)

Meeting Points

Artist Chronology

September 18, 1902
Born
At location: Willy Zielke
Lódz
1923–24
Studies at the Bavarian State School for Photography
At location: Willy Zielke
Munich
1925–28
Teaches at the Bavarian State School for Photography
At location: Willy Zielke
Munich
May 18–July 7, 1929
Internationale Ausstellung des Deutschen Werkbunds Film und Foto (FiFo) at Städtische Ausstellungshallen

Kunstgewerbemuseum, Zurich
August 28–September 22, 1929

Im Lichthof des Ehemaligen Kunstgewerbemuseums, Prinz-Albrechs-Strasse 7, Berlin
October 19–November 17, 1929

Stadtmuseum, Danzig
(dates unknown)

Österreichisches Museum, Vienna
February 20–March 31, 1930

Agram, Zagreb
April 5–14, 1930

Münchner Bund/Verein Ausstellungspark München E.V. (as part of Internationale Ausstellung. Das Lichtbild), Munich
June 5–September 7, 1930

Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo
April 1931

Asahi Shimbun, Osaka
July 1–7, 1931

Participant: Berenice Abbott, Herbert Bayer, Aenne Biermann, Anton Bruehl, Francis Bruguière, Max Burchartz, Florence Henri, André Kertész, Germaine Krull, Helmar Lerski, El Lissitzky, Man Ray (Emmanuel Radnitzky), László Moholy-Nagy, Walter A. Peterhans, Albert Renger-Patzsch, Hans Richter, Aleksandr Rodchenko, Charles Sheeler, Edward Steichen, Maurice Tabard, Umbo (Otto Umbehr), Edward Weston, Lucia Moholy, Werner Rohde, George Hoyningen-Huene, Gustav Klutsis, Karl Blossfeldt, Heinz Loew, Erich Comeriner, Semyon Fridlyand, Roman Karmen, Eli Lotar, Oskar Nerlinger, Robert Petschow, Sasha Stone, Dziga Vertov, Yva (Else Simon), Willy Zielke, Irene Bayer-Hecht, Hans Finsler, Cami Stone
Organizer: El Lissitzky, László Moholy-Nagy, Hans Richter, Edward Steichen, Edward Weston, Dziga Vertov
Visitor: Alexander Hackenschmied
Stuttgart
June–September 1930
Das Lichtbild exhibition
Participant: Aenne Biermann, Bill Brandt, Max Burchartz, César Domela-Nieuwenhuis, Florence Henri, Lotte Jacobi, André Kertész, Germaine Krull, Helmar Lerski, Walter A. Peterhans, August Sander, Umbo (Otto Umbehr), Edward Weston, Lucia Moholy, Werner Rohde, Franz Roh, Marianne Breslauer, Alexander Hackenschmied, Edmund Kesting, Jean Moral, Willy Zielke, Lore Feininger, Hans Finsler
Munich
1933
Contracted by NSDAP to work on the film Arbeitslos-Schicksal von Millionen
At location: Willy Zielke
München
November 7–19, 1933
Die Kamera. Ausstellung für Fotografie, Druck und Reproduktion at the exhibition halls of the radio tower
Participant: Walter A. Peterhans, Albert Renger-Patzsch, Umbo (Otto Umbehr), Werner Rohde, Willy Zielke
Berlin
1934
Leni Riefenstahl directs Triumph of the Will (Triumph des Willens), a documentary film about the NSDAP's Sixth Reich Party Congress. Willy Zielke is the cameraman.
At location: Leni Riefenstahl, Willy Zielke
Nuremberg Berlin
1935
Triumph of the Will (Triumph des Willens) wins a gold medal at the Venice Film Festival
Affiliated: Leni Riefenstahl, Willy Zielke
Venice
1935
Leni Riefenstahl directs Tag der Freiheit–Unsere Wehrmacht, a documentary film about the Wehrmacht's maneuver during the NSDAP's Seventh Reich Party Congress. Willy Zielke is the cameraman.
At location: Leni Riefenstahl, Willy Zielke
Nuremberg Berlin
Summer 1936
Leni Riefenstahl directs Olimpia, a two-part documentary about the Berlin Olympics. Willy Zielke is a cameraman on the film.
At location: Leni Riefenstahl, Willy Zielke
Berlin
January 1937–August 1942
Willy Zielke is removed from the credits for the film Olimpia and committed to a mental hospital against his will, where he is diagnosed with schizophrenia
Leni Riefenstahl may have fiancially arranged his release.
Affiliated: Leni Riefenstahl
At location: Willy Zielke
Munich
May 25–November 25, 1937
Exposition internationale des arts et techniques dans la vie moderne at the Trocadéro
Participant: Francis Bruguière, Germaine Krull, El Lissitzky, Maurice Tabard, Hajo Rose, Leni Riefenstahl, Willy Zielke, Hans Finsler, Max Penson
Organizer: El Lissitzky
Visitor: Gustav Klutsis
Paris
1938–39
Olimpia is awarded first prize at the Venice Film Festival, a National Film Prize, and the Olympic Gold Medal of the Comité International Olympique, as well as an Olympic Diploma
Affiliated: Leni Riefenstahl, Willy Zielke
Venice Berlin Lausanne
1956
Works as a cameraman for the film Schöpfung ohne Ende
At location: Willy Zielke
Germany
June 16, 1989
Dies
At location: Willy Zielke
Bad Pyrmont

Walther Photographs

View this artist's works in MoMA's Online Collection
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