Fritz Bleyl was born in
Zwickau,
Kingdom of Saxony, and grew up in the Erzgebirge region. In 1901 he began studying architecture at the Königliche Technische Hochschule (
technical university) of
Dresden, as his parents wished; however, his own desire was to become a painter. The institution provided a wide range of studies in addition to architecture, such as freehand drawing, perspective drawing and the historical study of art. Bleyl became close friends with fellow student,
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, whom he met during the first term. They discussed art together and also studied nature, In 1905, Bleyl along with
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, and two other architecture students,
Karl Schmidt-Rottluff and
Erich Heckel, founded the artists group
Die Brücke ("The Bridge"). The group aimed to eschew the prevalent traditional academic style and find a new mode of artistic expression, which would form a bridge (hence the name) between the past and the present. At this time, Bleyl was a keen member of the group. The group composed a manifesto (mostly Kirchner's work), which was carved on wood and asserted a new generation, "who want freedom in our work and in our lives, independence from older, established forces." and travelled in Italy and through the
Alps. For the rest of his life, he continued to teach and to practise as an architect. He also continued with
graphic work, but kept out of public gaze and did not have exhibitions. After the
World War II his apartment was confiscated in 1945 following which he settled in
Zwickau with his brother until 1948. He resided in
Rostock,
Neukölln in
Berlin, and
Brandenburg. In 1959 he moved to
Lugano in
Switzerland. He died in
Bad Iburg, aged 85. ==Exhibitions==