I am guided by what I perceive rather than what I invent. Colours, light and shadow, spatial constellations, and forms seen in exhibitions, during travels, in the digital realm, or in everyday life form the starting point for my work. I often begin with preparatory studies but respond spontaneously during painting, frequently working in series to explore variations. My aim is not to represent, but to create images of intense visual presence, with charcoal and graphite playing a central role as studies, independent works, or compositional elements alongside painting.
In the ‘Gallery’ you will find a small selection of my works. Please feel free to enquire about which works are available. Studio visits are also welcome. Please contact me by email (see below).
I look forward to hearing from you!
E-Mail: info@ulrikekessler.art
Vita
Exhibitions
2025
Participation "GEDOK Debut" at Schwarzes Kloster, Freiburg, Germany.
2025
Participation "Kunst-Werk-Schau" des BBK im T66 Kulturwerk (Members' Exhibition at T66 Cultural Center), Freiburg, Germany.
2025
Participation "Die Jurierte" (Juried art show), Artischock, Zurich, Switzerland.
2025
Participation "Klein und Fein", Opening Exhibition of the GEDOK | K5 space, Freiburg, Germany.
2024
Participation "Paradise Lost?", Stapflehus Museum Weil a. Rh., Germany.
2024
Participation "Spuren der Zeit", Dreiländermuseum Loerrach, Germany.
2024
Participation "Mail Art", Markgräfler Museum Muellheim, Germany.
2023
Participation "Kreativität ist frei sein", Markgräfler Museum Muellheim, Germany.
2023
Participation Winter Exhibition Art Associations Lörrach, Schopfheim, and Weil am Rhein, Germany.
2020
Solo-Exhibition "Something Deep Inside": Paintings, Drawings, Artist Books, Freiburg, Germany.
2019
Exhibition "Traces": Drawings, Paintings, Prints (together with Helen Boyd), Hong Kong, China.
2010
Participation "Seite um Seite", Forum Künstlerbuch Basel, at Galerie Zimmermannhaus, Brugg, Switzerland.
Memberships
BBK Berufsverband Bildender Künstler Südbaden (German professional association of visual artists, Südbaden Section).
GEDOK, Gemeinschaft der Künstlerinnen und Kunstfördernden Südbaden (German association of female visual artists and art funders, Südbaden Section).
Membership Verwertungsgesellschaft (VG) BildKunst (German collective management organization for visual artists’ copyright and related rights), Frankfurt / Main, Germany.
Memberships in Art Associations:
Kunstverein Freiburg, Germany /
Kunstverein Weil am Rhein, Germany /
Verein Bildende Kunst Lörrach, Germany /
Artischock, Zurich, Switzerland.
Works in private art collections
Basel (Switzerland), Berlin (Germany), Düsseldorf (Germany), Hamburg (Germany), Hong Kong (China), Minneapolis (MN, U.S.A), New York City (NYC, U.S.A), Sao Paolo (Brazil), Vancouver (Canada), Wien (Austria), Zürich (Switzerland).
Education (art-related)
Since 2023
Akademie der Bildenden Künste (Academy of the Fine Arts) Kolbermoor, Germany: Summer Academy with Prof. Markus Lüpertz, Berlin, Germany.
2023
Black Pond Studio, Rehobot, MA, U.S.A.: Seminars with Jennifer Pochinski, BFA, Providence, RI, U.S.A.
2021 - 2025
Freie Kunstakademie Augsburg, Germany, and Kunstfabrik Wien, Austria: Seminars with Mag. Bogdan Pascu, Vienna, Austria.
2021 - 2023
Weekly evening classes (online) with Felix Eckardt, Hamburg, Germany.
2021 - 2022
Akademie der Bildenden Künste (Academy of the Fine Arts) Kolbermoor, Germany: Study programme Drawing and Painting, with Felix Eckardt, Hamburg, Germany.
2019
Kunstakademie Allgäu, Germany: Grossformatige Malerei (Large Scale Painting), with Dagmar Wassong, Trier, Germany.
2018 and 2019
International Summer Academy of Fine Arts Venice, Italy: Several Painting Masterclasses, with Wolf Werdigier, Vienna, Austria, and Virginie Bailly, Brussels, Belgium.
2018
Art Students League, New York, U.S.A.: Painting, Composition, Color: class of Margret McCann, New York, U.S.A., and Expressive Watercolor: class of Elizabeth Allison, New York, U.S.A.
2017 - 2021
School of Applied Arts / Schule fuer Gestaltung, SfG, Basel, Switzerland: Drawing Experiments: class of Esther Hiepler, Basel; Experimental Pictorial Processes: class of Simone Berger, Liestal; Elementary Colour: class of Liliane Steiner, Basel.
2009 - 2010
School of Applied Arts / Schule fuer Gestaltung, SfG, Basel, Switzerland: Relief printing, toner transfer, experimental printing: class of Krassimira Drenska Wirz, Basel, SfG.
1998 - 2021
Regular attendance at evening classes at School of Applied Arts / Schule fuer Gestaltung, SfG, Basel, Switzerland: drawing, nude drawing, photography, etching, engraving, serigraphy.
1995 - 1998
First art courses at the local community centre: drawing, nude drawing, oil painting and art history with Johannes Buchholz (now Berlin and Essen).
Curriculum vitae (Selection)
Since 2018
Working freelance in my own studio.
2014-2022
Swiss International Law School (SiLS) Co-Founder (2014), Educational director (2014-2017), CEO (2017-2018), Chair of SiLS Association (2018-2022).
2007-2010
Master studies at the University of Central Lancashire, graduation (MSc) with a qualitative study on the quality of the education at a private Swiss educational institution in 2011.
1985-2014
Psychotherapist and homoeopathic practitioner, teacher, and supervisor in Freiburg, Germany and Basel, Switzerland.
Numerous travels (India, Egypt, United States, Patagonia, Japan, Hong Kong, Bhutan, Thailand, New Zealand, Cameroon, Fidji, Tonga, Bali, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Australia, Guatemala, Mexico, Seychelles, Iceland, and others).