Anna Franziska Schwarzbach was born in 1949 in Saxonia, Germany. Her father, Hans Brockhage, was a well-known sculptor in East Germany. Ms. Schwarzbach studied architecture before starting sculpture.  She has been commissioned for plaques and monumental sculptures in the numerous public places in Germany over years. Schwarzbach has received several awards including Ernst Rietschel Prize for Sculpture, the Hilde Broër Prize for Medallic Art, German Medalists Prize and the J. Sanford Saltus Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Art of Medal from the American Numismatic Society.