Background
Zwerger was born in Vienna in 1954.
Zwerger was born in Vienna in 1954.
She studied 1971 to 1974 at the Applied Arts Academy of Vienna, but left before completing the course of studies.
Since the publication of her first illustrated book in 1977 she has worked as a freelance picture book illustrator in Vienna, specializing in fairy tales. Michael Neugebauer Verlag published Zwerger"s first book, Das Fremde Kind in 1977. Zwerger continued to work with Neugebauer, who also occasionally contributed to the lettering and book design.
Her style is similar to that of English illustrators of the 19th century and she acknowledges being influenced by the work of Arthur Rackham.
Zwerger"s work has been exhibited worldwide. Salzburg Toy Museum, 1979
Klingspor Museum/Offenbach, 1983
Otani Memorial Art Museum/Nishinomiya, 1987
Sembikiya Gallery/Tokyo, 1987
Sano Gallery/Mishima, 1987
Museo Civico, Bologna, 1990
Paris Espace Saint-Ouen (Salon du livre de jeunesse), 1991
Bratislava (BIB), 1991
International Book Fair/Taipei, 1992
Franz Meier Museum/Mexico City, 1993.
The biennial Hans Christian Andersen Award conferred by the International Board on Books for Young People is the highest recognition available to a writer or illustrator of children"s books Zwerger received the illustration award in 1990. She has also been honored at the Bologna International Children"s Book Fair and the Biennial of Illustrators at Bratislava. She won a Silver Brush in 2000 for her illustration of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Österreichischer Kunstpreis - Kinderund Jugendliteratur, 1998 hockey club Andersen Prize "Mit Livs Eventyr", 2011. Großer Preis 2012, awarded by Die Deutsche Akademie für Kinderund Jugendliteratur.
