Born in Hanover, Germany, and later based in Switzerland, Dieter Roth emerged as a significant figure in the post-war avant-garde. His early career was defined by a rigorous exploration of graphic design and concrete poetry, which eventually evolved into his pioneering work with artist's books that challenged traditional notions of structure and narrative.

Roth is best known for his Materialbilder (material pictures) and large-scale installations that incorporated perishable food items. By allowing these materials to decompose over time, he introduced the element of entropy and change as a central theme in his practice, effectively blurring the lines between art and biological process.

His influence extends across multiple mediums, including printmaking, film, and music. Throughout his career, he maintained a prolific output that emphasized the process of creation over the finality of the object, cementing his legacy as a key figure in the development of conceptual and process-oriented art.