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, in an exhibition or in my studio … do not 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
»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
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