- Childhood and Education (1945–1963)
- Klaus Prior was born on 28 July 1945 in Wesel, Germany – a city that had been 97 percent destroyed at that time. From 1952 to 1963, he attended primary school and subsequently completed technical training in turbine construction.
- Early Years in Switzerland (1964–1970)
- In 1964, Prior spent an extended period in Switzerland for the first time and travelled to Venice, Florence, and Rome. In 1966, he moved permanently to Switzerland, where he began his first experiments as a painter. He established a studio in Ebnat-Kappel and attended evening classes at the School of Applied Arts in St. Gallen. In 1970, he moved to the canton of Ticino.
- Travels and Artistic Development (1971–1979)
- Between 1971 and 1974, Prior travelled through Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway, creating numerous studies of nature. In 1975, he opened a studio in Lugano and exhibited in Ticino and Italy. During this period, he devoted himself intensively to the study of the Old Masters in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection at Villa Favorita in Lugano. In 1979, he spent time in St. Louis, USA, where he maintained a studio and presented exhibitions.
- Creative Crisis and Reorientation (1980–1989)
- The years between 1980 and 1984 were marked by a profound creative crisis, during which Prior questioned and destroyed many of his works. In 1985, he spent time in New York, where he undertook intensive studies in museums. From 1986 to 1988, he exhibited in Milan and Brescia. In 1989, he acquired Swiss citizenship and established a studio in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
- New Countries, New Forms of Expression (1990–1994)
- Between 1990 and 1992, Prior travelled to Paris, Madrid, Toledo, and London, dedicating himself to studies in museums. During this period, a major solo exhibition was held at the Kunstverein Santa Cruz, and he began his first experiments as a sculptor. In 1993, he spent an extended period in Brazil, where he created numerous gouaches and began working in wood sculpture. In 1994, he travelled through the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, visiting museums and rediscovering Flemish Expressionism.
- A Mature Creative Period in Piedmont (1995–2008)
- From 1995 to 2008, Prior maintained studios in Piedmont and, until 2014, in Kißlegg. During this period, he created large-scale wood sculptures and paintings, as well as iron castings based on wooden models. In 2007, he visited the Buchenwald concentration camp and worked together with sculptor Armin Göhringer on a series of wood sculptures.
- Black-and-White Painting and Public Engagement (2008–2017)
- Between 2008 and 2017, Prior focused on black-and-white painting and created numerous works for public spaces. During this period, he participated in numerous exhibitions in various European countries.
Klaus Prior lives and works today in Lugano, Switzerland.
