The work of Berlin-based artist Franziska Beilfuß explores processes and cycles of transformation.
Her work is informed by philosophy of nature and their sociocultural parallels.
Beilfuß’s worlds of radiant color grow out of superimpositions of multiple layers of oil paint, applied in an expressive gestural-manner. Repeated, temporally staggered interventions in the slowly drying surfaces may find their correspondence in both gradual and erratic development patterns in nature. The interplay of form and color creates interactions between opacity and oscillating transparency, between depth and flatness. This continuously opens up new visual spaces for the viewer.
Transitions, connections and relationships between the pictorial elements emerge and open up interstices, enabling permeable narratives of an underneath and above.
With her ceramics, the artist has taken a step away from the surface and into three-dimensional space. Symbionts, her sculptural work series, explores strategies and ecological concepts of coexistence. In addition to her individual objects, some works are modular: the smaller forms grouped together causing larger organic forms to appear. The diverse surfaces punctured with brilliant colors from molten glass, establish a dialogical reference to her painting.
Another form of expression the artist finds in her scent- scapes (scent- installations), some of which are also presented in ceramics. In 2019, she began studying scent- design.
With her own ongoing studies she continously adapts this knowledge for her installation- art.
Franziska Beilfuß's works are both the result and part of an ongoing investigation. Adressing the interspatial through color and with materials that are subject to transformation (molten glass, fragrances) raises questions about temporality and development, growth and resilience. It is a search for the logic behind the apparent chaos, for the interaction of individual parts in the big picture, the interplay between micro and macro levels.
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Franziska Beilfuß studied at the University Of The Arts London, Central Saint Martins, the Freie Universität Berlin and the Universität der Künste Berlin (UdK), where she graduated in 2017 and was awarded the title "Meisterschüler" by the UdK in 2018. In addition to artist residencies, awards and scholarships followed.
Franziska Beilfuß' work has been shown in numerous exhibitions in Germany and abroad.
She lives and works in Berlin.
Internal evidence, oil on canvas, 150 x 110 cm, 2023
Curriculum Vitae
Education
Since 2019 Master Of Fine Arts (Meisterschüler), University Of The Arts Berlin (UdK)
2017-2018 Master- Studies, Painting class (Fine Arts) UdK, Berlin
2012-2017 Fine Arts Studies, UdK, Berlin
2011-2014 Bachelor studies at Freie Universität Berlin, Fine Arts History & Theatre Sciences
2006-2007 Fine Arts- Foundation, Central Saint Martins, Byam Shaw, University Of The Arts, London
Residencies, awards, scholarships
2023 Artprize of the Karin Abt- Straubinger Foundation, Stuttgart
2022 “Begehungen“ Artist Residency, Thalheim
2022 “Neustart Kultur“ stipend for visual artists, Kunstfonds foundation, Bonn
2020 Recognition award of the Bohnenkamp foundation (Franz Hecker stipend)
2016 “Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes“ stipend (nomination)
2013 Scholarship and performance- project „Urban Nomads“, Ulan Bator, Mongolia
Broadening of horizons
since 2019 self guided training in scent- design, workshops: Scent and Chemistry/ Perfumers World and at Institute of Art and Olfaction, LA
2008-2010 Performances in the theatre scene of Berlin accompanied by assistances with Dimiter Gotscheff / Volksbühne, Roger Vontobel / Deutsches Theater
One- or two- woman shows
2025 Möhringer Reihe
Haus 9 Studio, Berlin
2024 Gastspiel (Recipents of the Karin Abt- Straubinger Artprize)
Abtart Galerie, Stuttgart
2023 Gleichzeitig
Die Brücke, Kleinmachnow (Duo)
with Verena Schmidt
2020 ILLICO
Kunstverein Centre Bagatelle, Berlin
2019 Doppelgänger
Haus 9 Studio, Berlin
2018 Kokon
AIV Bleibtreustraße, Architects Association, Berlin
Groupshows (selection)
2025 Fluten, Act 1, Before the flood, Gaswerk, Weimar
2023 Reflective Emotions, Galerie 1565, Hamburg
2022 Begehungen, Plansch, Thalheim
2020 Sleeper in Metropolis, Maus Contemporary, Birmingham (USA)
2019 5 KünstlerInnen, 5 Jahrzehnte, Artcenter Tegel Gallery, Berlin
2018 Academy Positons, Berlin Tempelhof, Hangar 5-6
2018 Meisterschülerausstellung, (degree show) UdK Berlin
2018 Pics or it did not happen, Kunstraum Digital
2017 Pro oder Kontra, Burg Galerie Halle, curated by Julia Kurz & Dr. Jule Reuter, with Wolfgang Tillmanns
2016 Berlin Masters - Silence As Attitude, Arndt Art Agency, Berlin, curated by Philipp Bollmann
2015 young positions, Galerie Pankow, Berlin
2013 Ich beobachte dich, Kreuzberg Pavillion, Berlin, curated by Anne Naundorf, with Markus Drapper, Jens Klein, Florian Schramm
2013 Urban Nomads, Ulan Bator, Mongolei, (ITI/Goethe Institut/Auswärtiges Amt)
Publications
Texts
Ceramics as image carrier, Petra Kurek, 2025
ILLICO, Prof. Dr. Paul Nolte, 2020
Catalogues
Water, Smells Of Information, sculptural scent- installations 2022- 2025, 2025
Franziska Beilfuß, Abt- Straubinger artprize, Leporello, published by Karin Abt- Straubinger foundation, 2024
5 Jahre, work catalogue, published by Franziska Beilfuß, 2023
Wuchs & Wucher, solo exhibition catalogue (Neustart Kultur, Stiftung Kunstfonds), 2022
Plansch, exhibition catalogue, published by Begehungen Chemnitz, 2022
Illico, solo exhibition catalogue, published by Centre Bagatelle, Text: Prof. Dr. Paul Nolte, 2020
Halbschatten, work catalogue, published by Franziska Beilfuß, 2019
Kokon, work catalogue, Meisterschülerausstellung, Text: Theo de Luca, 2018
Ed.3 "Ich beobachte Dich", exhibition catalogue, published by A.N.C.Projects, ANCurators, 2014 (Ausstellungskatalog, Sezzession)
Magazines
Maus Contemporary gathers artists from Berlin, Widewalls, 2020
Berlin Art Link, Positions Art Fair, 2018
AIV- Forum, Franziska Beilfuß, Malerei, 1 / 2018
Interviews
Hismoon Gallery, China, 2024
Franziska Beilfuss, ILLICO, Gespräch mit Christa Nagel, 2021 (Video)
Interview with CS Art Partners NY, 2020
An interview with artist Franziska Beilfuß, by Wolfram Schnelle, 2017
Press
Hommage an Stuttgart, Stuttgarter Zeitung, 2023
Moderne Kunst im Hamburger Binnenhafen, Hamburger Abendblatt, 2023
Kunstfestival “Begehungen“, Grit Krause, Mdr Kultur, 2022
Die Kunst ist da, Freie Presse Kultur, 2022
Kombination aus Verfall und Kunst erweist sich als Attraktion, Freie Presse Lokal, 2022
Illico, Franziska Beilfuß, Centre Bagatelle, Text: Prof. Dr Paul Nolte, 2020
Malerin Franziska Beilfuß im Centre Bagatelle, Berliner Woche, 2020
Pics or it did not happen, Kunstraum Potsdamer Straße, 2018
Ich beobachte dich, curated by Anne Naundorf, Kreuzberg Pavillon, 2013
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Möhringer Reihe 2025 Water - smells of information Symbionts 2024 Gastspiel 2024