Klauss Ihlenfeld was born in Berlin Germany. Klauss studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Berlin, in 1950 and he studied with Hans Uhlmann. In 1957, he showed at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Klauss immigrated to Barto, Pennsylvania, and was a studio assistant to Harry Bertoia, and Bertoia's style informs much of his own work. Klauss was also friends with New Hope, PA furniture designer, George Nakashima. Klauss is best known for his abstract works in bronze, although he has also produced paintings and graphic art. Klauss has exhibited at the Staempli Gallery and is in the collection of the Hirshhorn Museum.