My approach to contemporary art is complemented by a keen interest in experimentation. The colors, the interplay between light and shadow, as well as with space are of particular interest to me.
My practice involves the creation of images that do not intend to evoke particular emotions or serve as representations of individuals, objects or situations. Instead, they allow the viewer to engage with the content in a manner that fosters independent thought, emotional response, and the formation of personal associations.
In my work, I explore the space between figuration and abstraction. My intention is to invite the viewer to let their gaze wander across the picture and ask his or her own questions.
My works are mostly based on photographs from my personal collection. These have been sourced from newspapers, magazines or my personal photos. Each image is meticulously selected, detached from its original context, and set against a sometimes more, sometimes less neutral background, rendering the original source virtually unrecognisable.
I usually work in series, whether on a large or small scale. This approach is consistent with my experimental and learning-oriented approach, which aligns with the principle ‘You don’t wait for inspiration, you just play’.
E-Mail: info@ulrikekessler.art
Vita
Exhibitions
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
Participation Ateliertage Sulzburg, Sulzburg, 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.
2018
Participation Ateliertage Sulzburg, Sulzburg, Germany.
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).
1956
Born in Rockenhausen, Germany. Married.