Born in 1981 in Achim, GER
Resides and works in Bremen, GER
Klaas Wurtmann studied within the interdisciplinary course of digital media at the University of Arts in Bremen. He graduated with a bachelors degree in arts. His focus, during his time at the university, has been on design and its integration into digital media. He studied abroad in Budapest/Hungary for a semester, where he took a break from digital media and studied in the painting class of Dora Maurer. His bachelor thesis dealt with the semiotics of the artist Vera Molnar, in particular with the question if it is thinkable to create artworks that are truly meaningless.
In tandem with his studies Klaas started to work at a design agency in Bremen. His job has mainly been to conceptualize and design websites. The work made him acutely aware of trends, their influences, their short-livedness, but also their rebirth and transformation through younger generations.
The german artist is very interested in the “good painting”. He doesn’t discriminate in this regard and does not judge a painting whether it is non-representational or representational. He also doesn’t shy away from different techniques, while oil-painting is his preferred medium. His subject matters include pop-culture that is off the mainstream, such as product packaging, things that seem to sneak into our collective subconciousness. He is also very much interested in the bonds people have to each other, living or dead. It is these invisible connections that he calls “ghosts”. This is complimented by his pictures of people as Alice Neel used to call her portrait paintings. They are his attempt at capturing life and preserve it, his attempt at leaving a trace of self.
Apart from these works Klaas also works in various non-representational ways. He creates paintings and objects mainly out of found material. This restriction breaks many moulds of artistic intent. While he views himself as kind of a director of ideas within his representational work, he believes to be a conductor of “something” outside himself when working in this manner. The material is telling something that is not born within the artist, but through the intentions and processes of “those before”. These works very well may be some of the “ghosts”.
The artist has been represented by the gallery “this is not true” by Nico Francioli. Since the physical space has been closed in 2023, this representation is digital at this moment in time.
Education
2002-2010: BA in Digital Media at the University of Arts Bremen, Bremen, GER
Solo-exhibitons
2021
Tag der offenen Ateliers Neustadt, open doors to the studio, Bremen, GER
2020
2Meterkunst, off-space: Horner Eck, Bremen, GER
2019
Tag der offenen Ateliers Neustadt, open doors to the studio, Bremen, GER
2019
Opening of the Jazz-Bar “Chameleon”, Bremen, GER
Selected group-exhibitons
2025
ARTgerecht, xpon art gallery, Hamburg, GER
stolen life, xpon art gallery, Hamburg, GER
2022
Interlude 1, this is not true, Bremen, GER
Show No III / Ausstellung Nr. III: “Selbstportraits von anderen / Marks on society”, this is not true, Bremen, GER
Show No I / Ausstellung Nr. I: “Stop fighting your demons /smlie”, this is not true, Bremen, GER
2018
3 exhibitions with ArrtPop (pop-up gallery), various places in Bremen, GER
2009
Du Held, off-space: Altes Zollamt am Hansator, Bremen, GER
2006
“Hochschule Tage” of University of Arts Bremen, Bremen, GER
2005
Final semester-exhibition, University of Arts Hungary, Budapest, HU
2002-2004
“Hochschule Tage” of University of Arts Bremen, Bremen, GER
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/klaaswurtmann/