Life and Work
Susanne Kühn, born 1969 in Leipzig, is internationally known as an outstanding protagonist of representational painting, especially for her color-intensive large-format paintings, where she elaborates scenes drawn from the most disparate influences in science, art history, fairy tales, children's books, comics, video games, nature, and urban architecture. These influences collide in her work, stradling the border between reality and fantasy. In addition to her paintings, the artist’s print works also make up a longstanding and independent aspect of her oeuvre.
The artist achieves the special tension characteristic of her works through the old master style precision of her observations of nature and architecture. These elements make up the framework of her scenes, allowing her to skillfully combine contemporary visual elements from the most diverse contexts of art history and popular culture. A fluid relationship unfolds between times, a temporal flow that culminates in the experimentation and interplay of all pictorial elements.
While in earlier works it was mainly young women, the artist’s friends and acquaintances, who populated the images, Kühn herself increasingly appears in her more recent works – a self-confident act of self-reflection as well as an assertion of one's own position as an artist. Recently, Kühn has also began to experiment with restraining her palette, sometime even to the point of leaving the images as black-and-white drawings on large-format canvases.
After studying at the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst in Leipzig, Susanne Kühn lived in the USA for several years, where she studied at the School of Visual Arts and Hunter College in New York. This was followed by a Radcliffe Grant at the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study at Harvard University. She was represented internationally by the Haunch of Venison Gallery until its closure last year. Beck & Eggeling has represented in Germany since 2013.
Works by Susanne Kühn can be found in important collections in Germany and abroad, such as the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City, the Museum Frieder Burda in Baden-Baden, the Museum für Neue Kunst in Freiburg, the Zabludowicz Art Trust in London, the Schwartz Art Collection of Harvard University, the Alison and Peter W. Klein Collection, the UBS Art Collection, and the Deutsche Bundesbank Collection.
Biography
1969 | born in Leipzig, DE |
1995 | Diploma of painting and graphics at the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst Leipzig, Leipzig, DE |
2015 | professor chair for painting at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste, Nuremberg, DE |
Prizes and Awards
2001 | Stipendium des Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University, Cambridge, US |
1995 | Postgraduierten-Stipendium des DAAD für die School of Visual Arts and Hunter College, New York, US |
Works (Selection)
Solo exhibitions (selection)
2022 | Susanne Kühn | Profliferation – Vasa, Auginella & other sprouts, Galerie für Gegenwartskunst - E-Werk, Freiburg, DE |
2021 | FLASH, Beck & Eggeling International Fine Art, Dusseldorf, DE Susanne Kühn. Malerei ONsite, Kunstmuseum Celle, Celle, DE upcoming: Museum der Bildenden Künste Leipzig (mit Peter Krauskopf), Leipzig, DE |
2020 | BANK – Inessa Hansch + Susanne Kühn,, Museum für Neue Kunst, Augustinermuseum, Freiburg, DE |
2019 | Palatte, Beck & Eggeling International Fine Art, Vienna, AT Korrespondenzen - Bosch & Kühn. Susanne Kühn: Beastville, Gemäldegalerie der Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien zu Gast im Theatermuseum, Vienna, AT |
2017 | Susanne Kühn – Spaziergänge & andere Storys, Haus der Graphischen Sammlung des Augustinermuseums Freiburg, Freiburg, DE |
2016 | Susanne Kühn, OMI International Arts Center, New York, US |
2015 | Susanne Kühn, Galerie Kleindienst, Leipzig, DE |
2014 | Welt der Wilden Tiere, Beck & Eggeling International Fine Art, Dusseldorf, DE |
2012 | Works on Paper, Sala Uno, Rome, IT Susanne Kühn, Städtische Galerie Offenburg, Offenburg, DE |
2011 | Garden Eden, Haunch of Venison, London |
2010 | Susanne Kühn, Kunstverein Lippe, Lippe, DE Study of Landscape, Robert Goff Gallery, New York, US |
2009 | Susanne Kühn, Forum Kunst, Rottweil, DE |
2008 | Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver, US Goff und Rosenthal, Berlin, DE |
2007 | Susanne Kühn, Kunstverein Freiburg, Freiburg, DE New Paintings, Goff + Rosenthal, Berlin, DE Drawings, Fred (London) Ltd., Leipzig, DE |
2006 | Paintings, Galerie Echolot, Berlin, DE |
2005 | Fred (London) Ltd., London Goff + Rosenthal, New York, US |
2004 | Galerie Echolot, Berlin, DE and Drawing, Galerie Kleindienst, Leipzig, DE |
2003 | Works on Paper, Bill Maynes Gallery, New York, US |
2002 | Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, US |
2001 | Recent Works, Bill Maynes Gallery, New York, US |
2000 | Drawings, Bill Maynes Gallery, New York, US Samek Art Gallery, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, US Drawings, Deutsches Konsulat, New York, US |
1999 | Paintings, Bill Maynes Gallery, New York, US |
1997 | Landschaften, Beck & Eggeling International Fine Art, Leipzig, DE |
Group exhibitions (selection)
2020 | BE schenken, Beck & Eggeling, Dusseldorf, DE Ausgepackt! 125 Jahre Geschichte(n) im Museum Natur und Mensch, Museum Natur und Mensch, Freiburg, DE |
2019 | Geheimnis der Dinge. Malstücke, Kunsthalle Recklinghausen, Recklinghausen, DE Come in. Interieurs, Beck & Eggeling International Fine Art, Dusseldorf, DE |
2018 | Gelb macht glücklich, Beck & Eggeling International Fine Art, Dusseldorf, DE To catch a ghost, Museum für Neue Kunst, Freiburg, DE “House for a Painting”, a large survey of objects by Susanne Kühn and Inessa Hansch, FRAC Alsace, Sélestat, FR Geheimnis der Dinge. Malstücke, Beck & Eggeling International Fine Art, Dusseldorf, DE |
2017 | Strange Beauty, Beck & Eggeling International Fine Art, Dusseldorf, DE Multiverse: Stories of This World and Beyond, Kemper at the Crossroads, Kansas City, US |
2016 | Den Wald vor lauter Bäumen..., Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden, DE Ein Baum ist ein Baum ist ein Baum, Beck & Eggeling International Fine Art, Dusseldorf, DE |
2015 | Dwelling among Mountains, Kemper Museum, Kansas City, US Die bessere Hälfte – Malerinnen aus Leipzig, Kunsthalle der Sparkasse Leipzig, Leipzig, DE |
2014 | Drive the Chance, 100plus, Zurich, CH |
2013 | Wahlverwandtschaften. Aktuelle Malerei und Zeichnung aus dem Museum Frieder Burda, Museum Franz Gertsch, Burgdorf, CH Wetterdämmerung – Ein Blick zurück, Sammlung Alison und Peter W. Klein, Eberdingen-Nussdorf, DE Inside, Merkur Art Gallery, Istanbul, TR |
2012 | Contemporary German Painting: The Future Lasts Forever, Interalia, Seoul, KR Malerei der ungewissen Gegenden, Kunstverein Frankfurt, Frankfurt/ Main, DE The Observer, Haunch of Venison, London von Dix bis Picasso, Kunsthalle Emden, Emden, DE salondergegenwart, Hamburg, DE |
2011 | The Big Reveal, Kemper Museum, Kansas City, US Hello. Goodbye. Die Sammlung, Museum für Neue Kunst, Freiburg, DE |
2010 | Hängung#6, Sammlung Alison und Peter W. Klein, Eberdingen-Nussdorf, DE Die Bilder tun was mit mir – Einblicke in die Sammlung Frieder Burda, Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden, DE |
2009 | Carte Blanche IX, Galerie für zeitgenössische Kunst, Leipzig, DE |
2008 | Future Tense: reshaping the landscape, Neuberger Museum of Art Purchase, New York, US Böhmen liegt am Meer, Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden, DE |
2007 | House Trip, Begleitausstellung Art Forum Berlin, Berlin, DE Neue Malerei. Aus dem Museum Frieder Burda, Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden, DE Neue Malerei. Aus dem Museum Frieder Burda, Museum im Prediger, Schwäbisch Gmünd, DE |
2006 | Inaugural Exhibition, Goff + Rosenthal, Berlin, DE Museum Frieder Burda, Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden, DE Dragon Veins, University of South Florida, Tampa, US Dragon Veins, Contemporary Art Museum, Tampa, US |
2005 | Internationale Biennale für zeitgenössische Kunst, Prague, CZ |
2004 | EAST International, Norwich Gallery, London Zweidimensionale 2004, Kunsthalle der Sparkasse Leipzig, Leipzig, DE INdiVisible SITIES, Bill Maynes Gallery, New York, US |
2002 | Into the Woods, Bill Maynes Gallery, New York, US Works on Paper, Bill Maynes Gallery, New York, US Curious Terrain, Elizabeth Harris Gallery, New York, US Postmodern Pastoral, Judy Ann Goldmann Fine Art, Boston, US |
2001 | Wet!, Luise Ross Gallery, New York, US Chelsea Rising, Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, US Wonderland, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, US |
2000 | Kunstverein Freunde Aktueller Kunst, Städtisches Museum Zwickau, Zwickau, DE Weatherspoon Art Museum, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, US |
EXHIBITIONS AT BECK & EGGELING (SELECTION)
Publications
Susanne Kühn. FLASH
- Artist: Susanne Kühn
Editor: Ute Eggeling, Michael Beck
Text: Susanne Kühn
Design: Susanne Kühn - German
Softcover, 24 x 32 cm
62 pages, 22 illustrations - Beck & Eggeling Kunstverlag, 2021
ISBN 978-3-94606325-4 - 20 €
Susanne Kühn. Welt der wilden Tiere
- Artist: Susanne Kühn
Editor: Ute Eggeling, Michael Beck
Text: Felicity Lunn im Gespräch mit Susanne Kühn - English, German
Hardcover, 28 x 21,5 cm
72 pages, 36 illustrations - Beck & Eggeling Kunstverlag, 2014
- 25 €
bibliography
Susanne Kühn. FLASH, Beck & Eggeling Kunstverlag, Düsseldorf 2021 |
Bosch & Kühn. Susanne Kühn: Beastville, Gemäldegalerie der Akademie der bildenden Künste/Theatermuseum, Wien 2019 |
Susanne Kühn. Spaziergänge und andere Stories, Museum für Neue Kunst / Städtische Museen, Freiburg 2017 |
Susanne Kühn. WALK, Galerie Kleindienst, Leipzig 2015 |
Susanne Kühn. Welt der wilden Tiere - World of Wild Animals, Beck & Eggeling Kunstverlag, Düsseldorf 2014 |
Susanne Kühn. WERKE/WORKS 2006 - 2012, Städtische Galerie, Offenburg 2012 |
Die Bilder tun was mit mir... Einblicke in die Sammlung Museum Frieder Burda. Hatje Cantz, 2010 |
Susanne Kühn, Malerei und Zeichnung 2007 - 2009. Modo Verlag, 2009 |
Susanne Kühn. Künstler - Kritisches Lexikon der Gegenwartskunst, Text: Hans-Joachim Müller, Zeitverlag, 2008 |
The Upset – Young Contemporary Art, Gestalten Verlag, Berlin 2008 |
Susanne Kühn. Kunstverein Freiburg / Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, Hatje Cantz, 2007 |
Dragon Veins. University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum, 2007 |
Neue Malerei. Erwerbungen 2002-2005, Museum Frieder Burda, Ostfildern, 2006 |
EAST International 2004, Norwich Gallery, Norwich School of Art and Design, Norwich 2004 |
Internationale Biennale für zeitgenössische Kunst, Nationalgalerie Prag, 2005 |
Chelsea Rising, Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans, 2001 |