At Karl-Heinrich Müller’s invitation, sculptor Erwin Heerich (born 29.11.1922, died 06.11.2004) began planning the first walk-in sculptures for Insel Hombroich in the autumn of 1982. For this, the artist was given a studio in the historical Kutscherhaus (Coach House) on the grounds. Construction work on the Hohe Galerie (High Gallery) had already begun by the spring of 1983, directly followed by Orangerie and the Graubner-Pavillon (Graubner Pavilion). After Müller purchased additional space, Heerich built a total of eleven sculptural structures on the museum grounds up until 1993.
Heerich grew up in Kassel and studied under Ewald Mataré at Düsseldorf Art Academy after the war. In 1951, he became one of Joseph Beuys’ master students and accepted a professorship there himself in 1969, which he retained until retiring in 1987. He took part in many events, exhibiting his geometric cardboard sculptures at documenta 4 in 1968 and drawings at documenta 6 in 1977. His entire estate can be found at Stiftung Insel Hombroich.