Markus Meurer learned already as a child how to make figures using wire and pliers. His father, who was an Outsider Art artist himself, taught Markus in his early years how to use these tools to make objects.[1] But while the father built items like motorbikes in as realistic a fashion as possible, the son created his pieces with great, free spirit.[2] He connected found objects, things and materials that were normally considered trash, with wire, giving them a new life. He transformed these artifacts into mythic creations, hybrid creatures of animal, man, and machine.[3]
Since he could not support himself with his art, he earned some money with casual jobs, anything that came his way. Up to 2006 he lived in the house of his parents in Monreal, Eifel, Germany. Over the years he turned this house into a Gesamtkunstwerk, a total, comprehensive work of art.[4]
After the death of his parents, life in Monreal became more and more difficult for Meurer.[5] From 2006 to 2008 he lived with his British wife in England. Here he wrote his book Die Plange Angst (Glaring Fear).[6]
With the help of friends Markus and his wife returned to Germany, to Kevelaer on the Lower Rhine, where they now live. His apartment is his home as well as his studio, and also serves as exhibition space.[7] Meanwhile, the house of his parents was declared unsafe and uninhabitable and was torn down by the town of Monreal.[8]
Markus’ work was made known in Germany as well as abroad with the help of art lovers around Kevelaer.[9] These past years his work includes more and more collages that demonstrate his philosophy and unique picture of the world.
Lisa Inckmann: Markus Meurer. In: 2 x 2 Forum Outsider Art, Kunsthaus Kannen, Münster 2009, p. 29.
Frans Smolders: Markus Meurer. In: Insita 2010, Slovak National Gallery, pp. 90–91, Bratislava 2010, ISBN978-80-8059-150-2.
Frans Smolders: „Drek bestaat niet“. Alles is materie voor Markus Meurer. In: Out of Art. Magazine voor actuele Outsider Art, Vol. 5, No. 1 / 2010, Amsterdam 2010.
Markus Meurer, Fielosofie der Ängste und Die Angst. Wo kommt sie her. In: Lisa Inckmann (Ed.): gedankenschwer und federleicht, Münster 2010, pp. 92–93, 154-155, ISBN3-930330-19-9.
Jasmijn Jarram: Markus Meurer. In: Catalogue Border Lines, garagerotterdam.nl/en/catalogues/3/artist/23/ [2012]. Retrieved October 1, 2012
Angelika Hille-Sandvoß: Einführung. In: Petra Dreyer und Michael Hanousek (Ed.): auf pump. 31 künstlerische Positionen. Duisburg 2014, p. 8; pp. 50–51.
Henk van Es: Künstlerhaus in Monreal. In: outsider-envirements.blogspot.de. January 3, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
Frans Smolders: Markus Meurer. In: Frans Smolders, Liesbeth Reith, Jos ten Berge (Ed.): Solitary Creations. 51 Artists out of De Stadshof Collection. Eindhoven 2014, pp. 188–195, ISBN978-94-6226-047-4
Christiane Meixner: Shreklich. In: Der Tagesspiegel (Berlin). May 17, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2014
^Hadwiga Nieting: Biographie. In: Alexandra von Gersdorff-Bultmann: SHREK - Markus Meurer, Berlin, 2014, p. 16.
^Frans Smolders: Markus Meurer. In: Frans Smolders, Liesbeth Reith, Jos ten Berge: Solitary Creations. 51 Artists out of De Stadshof Collection, Eindhoven 2014, p. 194.
^Lisa Inckmann: Zur Ausstellung. In: Alexandra von Gersdorff-Bultmann: SHREK - Markus Meurer, Berlin, 2014, p. 16.
^Henk van Es: Künstlerhaus in Monreal. In: outsider-envirements.blogspot.de vom 3. Januar 2012.
^Hadwiga Nieting: Biographie. In: Alexandra von Gersdorff-Bultmann: SHREK - Markus Meurer, Berlin, 2014, p. 16.
^Markus Meurer: Die Plange Angst. edition statt-museum, Düsseldorf 2010, ISBN978-3-00-032833-6.
^Hadwiga Nieting: Biographie. In: Alexandra von Gersdorff-Bultmann: SHREK - Markus Meurer, Berlin, 2014, p. 17.
^Ursula Quickert: „Art-brut-Haus“ wird abgerissen. In: Rheinzeitung vom 18. September 2007.
^Peter Nieting: Markus Meurer. In: Kunsthaus Kannen. 2x2 Forum Outsider Art 2015, Münster 2015, p. 20.
