Original serigraph by Gottfried Hellnwein, XVII/XC Edition, signed by the artist. In fine condition. Gottfried Helnwein , born October 8, 1948 in Vienna , is an Austrian - Irish artist who works with painting , photography and performance art . " The artist's function is to evoke the experience of surprising recognition: to show the viewer what he knows but does not know he knows. Helnwein is a master of surprising recognitions. William Burroughs Helnwein studied 1969-1973 at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts , where in 1970 he was awarded a so-called "Meisterschulpreis". He is repeatedly rewarded even later. His early works mainly consist of hyper-realistic watercolors depicting injured children, and performances in public places, often with children. Helnwein is a conceptual artist who is primarily interested in psychological and social anxiety, historical issues and political subjects. Consequently, his works are often regarded as provocative and controversial. He has worked as a painter, draftsman, photographer , mural painter , sculptorand performance artist, and used a variety of techniques and media. Helnwein is also known for his set design for theatre, ballet and opera productions, including at the Staatsoper Hamburg , Volksbühne Berlin and Los Angeles Opera . Among his more famous works is a parody of the famous Edward Hopper painting Night Owls .