Simon Denny

Simon Denny MNZM (b. 1982, Auckland, New Zealand) is a contemporary artist based in Berlin. He studied painting at the Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland (2001–2005) and at the Städelschule, Frankfurt am Main (2007–2009). His work unpacks the stories technologists tell about the world using installation, sculpture, print, painting, video, and NFTs. He is Professor of Time-Based Media at HFBK Hamburg (Hochschule für bildende Künste Hamburg), a position he has held since 2018. He co-founded BPA // Berlin Program for Artists in 2016 with Willem de Rooij and Angela Bulloch. Denny represented New Zealand at the 56th Venice Biennale in 2015 with Secret Power and was included in Massimiliano Gioni’s The Encyclopedic Palace at the 55th Venice Biennale in 2013. He has curated significant exhibitions on blockchain and art, including Proof of Stake at Kunstverein Hamburg (2021). Solo exhibitions at Serpentine Sackler Gallery London (2015), MoMA PS1 New York (2015), K21 Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen Düsseldorf (2020), Hammer Museum Los Angeles (2017), MUMOK Vienna (2013), MONA Tasmania (2019), Petzel Gallery New York, and the 9th Berlin Biennale (2016). Appointed Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in the King’s Birthday Honours 2025 for services to art. Baloise Art Prize, Art Basel (2012). Homepage: simondenny.net

Selected Bibliography
Denny, Simon, et al., eds. Proof of Stake: Technological Claims. Milan: Lenz Press, 2023.
Beyes, Timon, Simon Denny, et al., eds. Media Organize: A Companion to Technological Objects. Hamburg: HFBK Hamburg, 2021.
Denny, Simon. Extractor. Berriedale: Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), 2019.
Denny, Simon. Simon Denny: Products for Organising. London: Serpentine Galleries / Koenig Books, 2015.
Denny, Simon, et al. Simon Denny: Secret Power. Milan: Mousse Publishing / London: Koenig Books, 2015.
Denny, Simon. Simon Denny: New Management. Milan: Mousse Publishing / Frankfurt: Portikus, 2014.
Denny, Simon. Cruise Line. Cologne: Walther König, 2011.