In the 1970’s Klaus Mertens became an architect. After some years on the job he began his studies of Fine Arts in Berlin. In 1992 he graduated with a Master’s degree by Georg Baselitz. Based in Berlin his art was focused on painting and printmaking with exhibitions in Germany and Europe. In 2007 Mertens moved to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Inspired by the sense of Africa he developed his art work consequently to the medium of sculpture, photography and performance. There he started to teach at the school of Fine Arts and Design at the Addis Abeba University. Since 2016 Mertens lives in Belgrade and is working with the inspirations from life and culture of Balkan region.