Thomas Hirschhorn is born in 1957 in Berne, Switzerland.​ He lives and works in Paris.​

Thomas Hirschhorn studied at Zurich (1978-1983) and moved to Paris in 1984. Since the mid-eighties, the artist offer displays (“stalls”, “windows”), flimsy structures made of materials such as cardboard, aluminum foil, adhesive brown plastic. Adding photocopies, pictures cut from newspapers or magazines, and photographs, he enrolled in ballpoint comments or questions about recurring themes: culture, economy, politics, religion. It progressively integrates TV monitors and video devices to its facilities and now offers mobile and ephemeral show-cases works that can be placed within the public space.​

Thomas Hirshhorn is a recipient of the Meret Oppenheim Prize (2018); the Kurt Schwitters Preis, Niedersächsische Sparkassenstiftung (Lower Saxony Savings Bank Foundation) (2011); the Joseph Beuys-Preis, Joseph Beuys-Stiftung (2004); the Marcel Duchamp Prize (2000).​

He has has had major solo exhibitions at the MAXXI, Roma (2021); GL Strand Copenhagen (2021); Ming Contemporary Art Museum, Shanghai, (2018); Museum Villa Stuck, Munich (2018); Kunsthal Aarhus (2017); Kunsthalle Bremen (2015); Palais de Tokyo, Paris (2014); Institute Of Modern Art Brisbane (2013); DIA Art Foundation, Bronx (2013); Mudam Luxembourg (2012); 54th Venice Biennial, Swiss Pavillion (2011); The Power Plant, Toronto (2011); Trussardi Foundation, Milan (2008); Secession, Vienna (2008); Museu Serralves, Porto (2006); Wattis Institute, San Francisco (2006); Musée Précaire Albinet (2004); Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt (2003); Musée National d’Art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris (2001), among others.​