He has collaborated with director Werner Herzog on a number of projects.
Among his many collaborations with other film, theatre and opera directors, Gierke is most notable as a painter.
He was Production Designer during The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser, Nosferatu the Vampyre and Fitzcarraldo.
As a Set Decorator he worked on Heart of Glass and Woyzeck, as Stage Designer on operas: Lohengrin and Giovanna d'Arco and as Costume Designer on film The Transformation of the World Into Music.
Gierke shot additional still photographs on Stroszek's set.