Andreas Urscheler
Andreas Urscheler is a Swiss fine art photographer renowned for his large-format, high-resolution prints produced in limited editions. Raised in Zurich and Davos, he was introduced to analogue black and white photography by his father and through school. He later earned a PhD in medieval literature after studies in Zurich, Portsmouth and Monterey. His academic and artistic backgrounds converge in a visual practice rooted in time, memory and the alpine landscape.
Urscheler’s photography is rooted in the Swiss mountains, where he focuses on old wooden barns and huts situated in remote alpine pasturelands. His long-term series, titled «Woodcuts», documents the weathered cross sections of logs at the corner joints of these traditional buildings. These are not conventional tree-ring illustrations but deeply expressive records shaped by decades of wind, snow and sun. Each frame becomes a visual metaphor layered with history, environment and craft.
Thematically, his work explores transformation, the passage of time and the interdependence of nature and human settlement. He describes each photograph as capturing three lives: the life of the tree, its role in sheltering people as part of a structure, and its preservation as a fine art print. His method combines precision with reverence, producing images that strike a balance between clarity and meditative stillness.
Urscheler’s background in medieval literature influences his philosophical approach to photography. His images offer more than aesthetic value—they prompt reflection on existence, impermanence and the silent stories embedded in materials shaped by both nature and human hands. The visual repetition and symmetry of the log ends often resemble mandalas, inviting quiet contemplation.
His work is not only a tribute to architectural heritage but also an invitation to recognise beauty in decay and transience. In a fast-paced world, Urscheler’s photographs encourage viewers to pause and consider the slow accumulation of time. The strength of his practice lies in this intersection of artistry and introspection, where the physical becomes symbolic, and the ordinary is transformed into the sacred.
Selected works from «Woodcuts» have been exhibited in Switzerland and acquired by international private collectors. His prints have appeared in several art exhibitions highlighting alpine architecture, environmental storytelling and fine art craftsmanship. He continues to develop and expand the series with new work emerging from ongoing explorations in remote areas of the Alps.
