About Nick Wolfgang
Berlin Born into a newly reunited Germany, Nick grew up between two very different worlds. His parents came from opposite sides of the wall—one side privileged and closely connected to the cultural and political elite of the city, the other living a self-sufficient life on the outskirts. From an early age and under the guidance of private tutors, Nick was taught in classical music and the arts. But it was spending time in his grandfather’s workshop that truly fascinated him. During the communist dictatorship, the family had learned to build and fix everything themselves—from cars to houses. It’s no surprise that Nick grew up to become an engineer and passionate tinkerer, blending creative curiosity with hands-on problem-solving.
Lake Cargelligo After realizing that electrical engineering wasn't his true calling, Nick decided to take a short break from university and travel to Australia. What was meant to be a few months turned into 5 years in the Outback, where he found himself running a remote farm in Lake Cargelligo. In this environment, necessity became the ultimate teacher. With tradespeople often only to be found in the pub, Nick taught himself to be a mechanic, fabricator, plumber or whatever else was needed. It was here, in the dust and heat, that he designed and built his first piece of machinery, laying the foundation for an interesting path forward.
Santiago Now studying agricultural engineering, Nick found himself on a research farm near Santiago de Compostela in Spain. But instead of focusing on academic research, he became drawn to a different project unfolding on the land, the restoration of ancient Roman paths and the clearing of non-native trees (many of them, ironically, Australian species) to make space for ecological regeneration. Nick challenged the idea of letting the felled wood rot, and instead built a sawmill. Out of this wood and ancient granite posts, he began constructing a hut for hikers and carving benches. He became fascinated by wood on a larger scale and started experimenting with chainsaw carving, reigniting his artistic spark in a raw and powerful way.
Auckland Whilst working in New Zealand's horticultural sector, Nick soon found himself at the mercy of Auckland’s notorious traffic. With his partner’s career based in the CBD, they faced a choice: continue with long daily commutes and hardly see each other, or shift direction.
Since then, Nick has committed fully to life as a sculptor. Winning the Small Sculpture Award at the Kimbolton Sculpture Festival with his first New Zealand-made work gave him early affirmation. Now based in Auckland, he is gradually building out a more permanent workshop, expanding his toolset to include welding and fabrication equipment.
At this stage, Nick is intentionally taking time to experiment—exploring new materials, refining techniques, and pushing the boundaries of what his sculptures can express.