Thomas Hirschhorn was born in 1957 in Bern (Switzerland). He studied at the Schule für Gestaltung, Zürich, from 1978 to 1983 and moved to Paris in 1983, where he has lived ever since. 

His work has been shown in numerous museums, galleries and exhibitions among which the Venice Biennale (1999 and 2015), Documenta11 (2002), 27th Sao Paolo Biennale (2006), the 55th Carnegie International, Pittsburg (2008), the Swiss Pavillion at the 54th Venice Biennale (2011), La Triennale at Palais de Tokyo, Paris (2012), the 9th Shanghai Biennale (2012), Gladstone Gallery New York (2012), Manifesta 10 in Saint-Petersburg (2014). In 2013 Thomas Hirschhorn presented the "Gramsci Monument" in the Bronx, New York.

“Flamme éternelle”, his most recent ‘Presence and Production’ project, took place at Palais de Tokyo, Paris from 24 April to 23 June 2014.

A selection of his writings was published by MIT Press (October Books): "Critical Laboratory: The Writings of Thomas Hirschhorn", and in 2015 by Macula: “Une volonté de faire, Thomas Hirschhorn” collection Les in-disciplinés-e-s. In 2015 the book “Gramsci Monument” was published by Dia and Koenig Books.
With each exhibition – in museums, galleries, alternative spaces – as well as with specific works in public space,

Thomas Hirschhorn asserts his commitment toward a non-exclusive public. Thomas Hirschhorn has received different awards and prizes, among which : “Preis für Junge Schweizer Kunst” (1999), “Prix Marcel Duchamp” (2000), "Rolandpreis für Kunst im öffentlichen Raum" (2003), “Joseph Beuys-Preis” (2004) and the “Kurt Schwitters-Preis” (2011).

Thomas Hirschhorn was already Speaker of the Sommerakademie 2006.