Swiss surrealist designer Hans Ruedi Giger, who won an Oscar for the monster he created for Ridley Scott's Alien, has died, a museum dedicated to his work says.
The HR Giger Museum in the central Swiss village of Gruyere confirmed that the 74-year-old artist had died, but provided no further details.
Swiss public broadcaster SRF meanwhile reported that Giger had died on Monday afternoon in hospital from injuries sustained in a fall, citing sources close to his family.
Born on February 5, 1940 into a chemists family in the small eastern Swiss town of Chur, Giger moved to Zurich in 1962 to study architecture and industrial design.
He quickly turned to art, producing ink drawings and oil paintings that formed the basis for his first solo exhibition four years later.
But it was his discovery of the airbrush that led to the unique freehand painting style that characterises many of his most famous works.
His distinctive style shot to global fame when he created the Alien for Ridley Scott's 1979 iconic film, with help from ET creator Carlo Rambaldi. The monster earned Giger an Oscar in 1980 for the Best Achievement in Visual Effects.
The terrifying costume, which was worn to great effect by an actor in the film, was reportedly sold at auction about a decade ago for $US126,000 ($A136,326).
The artist also gained international recognition for his often dark and demonic Giger sculptures, as well as for his paintings and furniture.
He also modelled several so-called Giger Bars, where patrons are immersed in the atmosphere seen in Alien and other films he worked on.
Share
