Born 1964 in Hamburg
Alsterdamm Art School Hamburg 1985–1989 with diploma
Freelance visual artist with a focus on painting and sculpture since 2012
Membership
BBK Hamburg
Kunstverein in Hamburg
Bild-Kunst
Ateliers für die Kunst
My practice navigates the interplay of continuity and transformation. My visual language is in constant evolution, yet it retains a distinctive signature. Working across painting, sculpture, and drawing, I use a diverse range of techniques and materials to construct multilayered narratives that invite close engagement and critical dialogue with the viewer.
A recurring motif in my work is animal figures, which I stage in situations that could just as easily be experienced by humans. This transformation—the animalistic interpretation of human experiences—creates a distance that allows for new perspectives. A serious scene can become gentler or even humorous, while at the same time revealing a deeper truth. In addition to these abstract animal figures, I also paint real people, which leads me to describe my work as a form of imaginative realism or a surreal narrative space.
A central characteristic of my work is the interplay between close-up and distant perspectives. From a distance, my often large-scale works appear as cohesive compositions with clear narrative structures. Upon closer inspection, however, fine details emerge: In painting, a fabric-like texture becomes visible, created through scraping and reworking layers of paint. In my sculptures, the material may appear uniform from afar, but up close, hand-sewn fabric fragments embedded in the papier-mâché become apparent. This depth of detail adds another dimension of perception and opens up new layers of meaning.
Technically, my works are complex and multi-layered. I build up layers of paint, scratch, and paint over again to reveal what was once hidden. My figurative sculptures, made from papier-mâché and handcrafted textile elements, also arise through an intricate, time-intensive process. There are strong connections between these different forms of expression in my work. Many of my pieces evolve over years, reflecting personal experiences as well as political reflections.
I use my art to gain deeper insights into the essence of human experience. My works depict figures that either interact with one another or confront the viewer. They are narrative yet never entirely decipherable. My creative process is both experimental and reflective: sketches, linguistic explorations, or research often precede a piece. The choice of technique is always guided by the content, allowing me to capture moods and questions with nuance.
Additional:
One year in Southeast Asia
Birth of a son in 1997
Short films and picture stories, NDR Sesame Street 1997–2000
Design and production of textile puppets, puppet theater 2002–2019
Mentor at the art school of the Institute for Child Development with Dr. med. Inge Flehmig 2003–2007