Wolfgang Petrick was born in 1939 in Berlin. Petrick began studying biology, but he quickly changed directions and went to the College for Visual Arts to study under Professor Volkert. He was one of the co-founders of the legendary exhibition group "Großgörschen 35" in 1969. Petrick dedicated his works to social-critical themes. In 1969, the artist received the prize for painting from the city of Wolfsburg. A stipend from Cité des Arts allowed Petrick to go to Paris in 1971. The next year, he was awarded the gold medal at the 3rd Biennale Internazionale della Grafica in Florence. In 1972 with other artists including Peter Sorge und Hans Jürgen Diehl, Petrick joined the group "Aspekt" to further the ideas of Critical Realism. Petrick worked as a theater set designer in the early 1970's. He was appointed professor at the Academy of Arts Berlin in 1975. The German Critics' Prize was awarded to Petrick in 1981. Wolfgang now lives and works in Berlin and also in New York since 1994.