About me

I am a freelance artist specializing in books and graphics. I love to experiment, build, play with spaces, and hop back and forth between different disciplines. In addition to artist books, I also make unique bindings and decorated papers. Another form of expression are prints which I create to my books or as independent series on topics that just occupy me. One of my main themes that has accompanied me for many years is happiness. In the process, I usually let myself be directly influenced by the place where I work.

And so that things don’t get boring, I also like to devote myself to public art projects, work on installations or delve into historical printing, decorated paper and bookbinding techniques. The combination of all this makes up my artistic work. I like to go to the limits of what is technically possible with overlapping very thin layers of paint, barely perceptible material transitions or delicate reliefs and embossings that, barely visible, sharpen the sense of touch. I want to touch all the senses and it takes time and calm to open up and perceive and enjoy all the details. This online presence gives a small insight in which direction it goes, but haptics, smell, sound, weight, materiality and many subtleties can not be transported through this medium. I would therefore like to cordially invite you to discover my work in the original, whether at an art fair, an exhibition or in my studio … don’t be shy, I am happy about a visit.

Vita

Current
Lives and works as a freelance artist in Halle (Saale)

2022
Teaching art practice at the Bergische Universität Wuppertal

2020
Founding of the studio community Goldene Esel with Annette Friedrich

2019–2022
Part-time employee of museum education at the Museum Neues Weimar
with a focus on the Dorfner-workshop

2014–2016
Part-time employee of the graphic workshop at Hochschule Anhalt in Dessau

Since 2014
Founder member of the book artist network b.a.c.H. (book art center Halle)

2012
Foundation of the artists’ group Hentschel, Horn und Lass – Büro für funktionslose Architektonik

2011–2022
Teaching in the Kreativwerkstatt Aschersleben as part of school projects

2011
Foundation of the Studio for Book Art Rita Lass

Since 2010
Member of the Berufsverband Bildender Künstler Sachsen-Anhalt e.V. (Professional Association of Visual Artists Saxony-Anhalt)

Since 2009
Founder member of the art and project space Kiosk am Reileck hr.fleischer, 2011–2019 on the board

2007–2008
6-month stay abroad in Norway at the Kunsthøgskolen i Bergen (khib) as part of an Erasmus scholarship

2003–2010
Study at Burg Giebichenstein HKD Halle, Concept Art Book area with Prof. Mechthild Lobisch and Book Art with Prof. Sabine Golde, 2010 diploma with Prof. Mechthild Lobisch and David Bielander

2003
Activity as a bookbinder at Mückenschweinverlag in the storeroom at Katharinenberg, Stralsund

2002
Restoration work at Boguslav Radis, restorer for books and paper, Lübeck

2001–2002
7-month stay abroad in Croatia (including 4 months of internship in the bookbinding and restoration department at the State Archives Split)

1998–2001
Apprenticeship as a bookbinder for special and individual production, journeyman’s certificate, award as the best in the year of the state of Berlin

1998
High school diploma

1979
born in Berlin

projects

2019
»Streifzüge als Experiment« Teil 5 (part 5) with Annekathrin Pohle and Rita Lass (Artistic City Walk for the 150th Anniversary of Neu-Ulm, initiated by the Edwin Scharff Museum, curated by Dr. Johannes Stahl)

2018–2019
»EXPEDITIONEN. Die Stadt als Aktionsraum« (artistic direction together with Annekathrin Pohle on behalf of hr.fleischer e.V.)

2017
»tattoomuch« with Silvia Weidenbach (Gilbert Collection Fellow at the V&A) and Torsten Illner, Victoria and Albert Museum, London

2013 & 2014
Co-organizer of the »Kulturprodukt Halle«

2012
Initiator of the visual arts working group on the cultural policy guidelines of the city of Halle (Saale)

Competitions, Grants and Awards

2021
August to October 2021 »Kultur ans Netz II«, work grant from the state of Sachsen-Anhalt

2020
September to early December 2020 »Kultur ans Netz I«, work grant from the state of Sachsen-Anhalt

2014
Röderhof Grant from June to August 2014

2012
Rhenania Art Prize 2012 (with »Büro für funktionslose Architektonik«)

2009
awarded a Sterling Silver bone folder at the Designer Bookbinders International Competition 2009;
Birkner Prize along with Torsten Illner and Helmut Stabe

2007
two-month print workshop grant from the Städtische Galerie Wolfsburg;
four-month Erasmus grant at the Kunsthøgskolen i Bergen

2002–2003
Grant through the gifted education in vocational training

2001
first prize of the Erwin-Wittkamm-Gedächtnisstiftung;
State winner in the performance competition of the Berlin Handicraft Youth 2001 in the competition profession bookbinding trade

exhibitions and fairs

Regular participation in artist book fairs in Hamburg, Leipzig, Berlin and Weimar

2023
»Wrestlemania – 188 goes berserk!«, Künstlerhaus 188, Halle (Saale);
»Autumn guests 2023 from Saxony-Anhalt«, Kunstverein Ibbenbüren;
»Transriva – between the shores – book in sight«, Literaturhaus Halle;
»Matrices and Menetekel – printmaking techniques and their images«, Künstlerhaus 188, Halle (Saale);
»Masterful unique pieces – 100 years of binding art«, Museum für Druckkunst Leipzig, Oldenburg State Library, Hamburg State and University Library

2022
»Motive passion«, Künstlerhaus 188, Halle (Saale)
»Art weeks Radewell«, Kunststandort Papierfabrik Radewell, Halle (Saale);
»Dictions and Substrates – printmaking positions of the Künstlerhaus 188 e.V. Halle«, Künstlerhaus Karlsruhe

2021
»Künstlerhaus Goldener Pflug in exile«, Kunststandort Papierfabrik Radewell, Halle (Saale);
»Exhibition for auction in favor of palliative care 2021«, Künstlerhaus 188, Halle (Saale)

2020
»At distance«, Installation by Rita Lass (part 1) and interaction by Petra Reichenbach (part 2), art and project space Kiosk at the Reileck, Halle (Saale);
»PrintPrintPrint«, Künstlerhaus 188, Halle (Saale) – unfortunately without an audience due to corona lockdown

2019
»Binding – Art – Today«, City Library Center, Nürnberg

2018
»Contemporary art bindings«, Auguste Blaizot Bookstore, Paris

2017
»The Künstlerhaus Goldener Pflug introduces itself«, Willi-Sitte-Gallery, Merseburg;
»Heroic Works«, Blackwell Hall of the Weston Library, Oxford