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ARTIST STATEMENT

My work examines the complexities and correlations of our environment, natural phenomena, and physical forces. It articulates allegorical relationships between some of the most significant contentions of our time: humans and nature, strength and fragility, crisis and hope.

Painting is an emotional medium to me: I conceptualize rationality and make the analytical approachable by transcending science’s inherent sobriety into emotion and poetry. Through a process involving a range of different materials and techniques centered on painting as a primary medium, I often begin with raw canvases that are layered with pieces of paper and other material fragments, employing brushwork and collage methods to apply materials like graphite or soot, generating a source of energy and suspense through color and contrast.

My practice is based upon my appreciation for nature, along with a sense of wonder I experience through hikes in mountains and glaciers, walks in forests and meadows, and the observation of clouds and thunderstorms. While I find important inspiration in local environments, I equally gain precious impulses from international residencies, which allow me to experience extraordinary phenomena beyond my familiar horizon.

By examining facets of nature through a ecologic-scientific lens, I aim to understand nature and its workings, and to reproduce these events in a sensual and poetic way, pointing out their incredible might while underscoring its increasing fragility.

ANGELIKA J. TROJNARSKI

Born in Mrągowo, Poland
Lives and works in Düsseldorf, Germany

STUDIES

2013Meisterschülerin of Andreas Gursky
2013Diploma / MFA
2006-
2013		Kunstakademie Düsseldorf / Profs.: Andreas Gursky, Herbert Brandl, and Jörg Immendorff

TEACHING

2025&
2026		HSD - Peter Behrens School of Arts, Düsseldorf
2023Art mentor, Landesbüro für Bildende Kunst (LaB K) NRW, Aachen – Kornelimünster
2015-
2026		Kunstakademie Bad Reichenhall

GRANTS & AWARDS

2026Research and work fellowship, Kunststiftung NRW
2025Wilhelm-Morgner-Preis, Soest
Bremerhaven Stipendium
2024Work fellowship, Stiftung Kunstfonds, Bonn
Nominated for the Villa Aurora Fellowship, Los Angeles, US
Project grant, Kulturdezernat / Cultural Office of Düsseldorf
Project grant, Kunst- und Kulturstiftung der Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf
2022Publication grant, Kunststiftung NRW
Grant for Innovative Art Projects, BBK Bundesverband Berlin
2021Fellowship, Deutscher Künstlerbund e. V., Berlin
2020Travel grant for international projects, Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes NRW
2017Lepsien Art Foundation Grant Program, Düsseldorf
2013Project grant, Bezirksregierung Münster
Nominated for art prize ‘junger westen‘, Kunsthalle Recklinghausen
2011PSD Bank Art Award, Düsseldorf
2010Hogan Lovells Art Award, Düsseldorf
2009Work scholarship, Kulturbahnhof Eller, Düsseldorf

RESIDENCIES

2026SilvrettAtelier Montafon, Kunstforum Montafon, AT
2022Fellowship and Residency, Atelier Josepha, Ahrenshoop, DE
2020CCA residency Kunsthalle Andratx, Mallorca, ES
2018SÍM residency Reykjavik, IS
100W Corsicana residency, Texas, US
2016CentralTrak Residency and Grant Program, University of Dallas, Texas, US
2015CCA residency Kunsthalle Andratx, Mallorca, ES

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2025THINKING LIKE A MOUNTAIN, Märkisches Museum Witten
2024AWE, Johanneskirche Düsseldorf
2023WARM BREATH, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin
2022DAS ENDE WIRD DENNOCH KOMMEN, with Michał Smandek, Polnisches Institut Düsseldorf
2019PERFECT STORM, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin
2018EQUINOX, KunstHalle Cloppenburg
2017THE RISING, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin
THE RISING, Julia Ritterskamp, Düsseldorf
S T U D E O, v. Rundstedt, Düsseldorf
2016MENSURA – Measuring the World, CentralTrak, Dallas, Texas, US
2015VERWORFENE WAHRHEITEN, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin
2014LIAISON, Frank Vits Collection, Düsseldorf
2013DAS FÜNFTE ELEMENT, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin
HC SVNT DRACONES, Neue Galerie Gladbeck
2012FRAGEN AN DIE UNBELEBTE NATUR, Kunstverein Recklinghausen
VERSUCH ZUM STRAHLENGANG, Kunstverein Xanten
2011OBSERVATION OF NATURE, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin
2009AFTER THE GOLD RUSH, Kinsey/DesForges Gallery, Los Angeles, US
SCHEITERNHAUFEN, Anna Klinkhammer Galerie, Düsseldorf
2008RICOCHET, Kinsey/DesForges Gallery, Los Angeles, US

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2026THE SEED IS THE TREE IS THE HOUSE, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin 
NATUR UND GEISTER, Goethe Museum, Düsseldorf
DIE WIRKLICHKEIT DER FARBE, Kallmann-Museum Ismaning
DIE SZENE, Bilker Bunker, Düsseldorf
SURFACE AS FIELD, boa basedonart, Düsseldorf
2025WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin
WILHELM-MORGNER-PREIS, Museum Wilhelm Morgner, Soest
WELT, WOHIN? ZERO und die Gegenwart, ZERO foundation at Malkastenforum, Düsseldorf
21 x 21. DIE RUHRKUNSTMUSEEN AUF DEM HÜGEL, Villa Hügel, Essen
UND WIR FANGEN GERADE ERST AN, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf
DIE GROSSE, Kunstpalast Düsseldorf
INTERLUDE, StadtGalerie Brixen, IT
PAPER & SOUND, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin
2024REALITY CHECK, Kunstmuseum Ahlen
DISSONANCE. Platform Germany, National Museum Bucharest, RO
STORAGE SPACE, the collection of Kunsthalle Recklinghausen in Antwerp, Tick Tack, BE
DISSONANCE. Platform Germany, Stadtgalerie Kiel
DOORS, Photo+ Biennale for Visual and Sonic Media, The Pool, Düsseldorf
NEANDERLAND, Museum Ratingen
2023BETWEEN THE LINES, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin
FOTOGRAFIE Fotokunst aus NRW, Kunstverein Kunst und Haltung e.V., Düsseldorf
WHERE ARE WE NOW, Art'Us Collectors' Collective, Wilhelm Hallen, Berlin
5th AMTSALON, Berlin
2022INHALE/EXHALE, Kunst & Denker Contemporary, Düsseldorf
BIO-MECHANICAL FESTIVAL, Chalkida, GR
2021WORKS ON PAPER, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin
DIE GROSSE, Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf
2020HOW TO HUMAN, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin
LICHTBILD, Orangerie Schloß Benrath, Düsseldorf
SPRING OF 2020, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin
2019AS X AS Y, Palace of Culture and Science, Warsaw, PL
BIOPHILIA, Kunst & Denker Contemporary, Düsseldorf
RAUM-ORIENTIERUNG, Kunstmuseum Gelsenkirchen
2018BETWEEN THE LINES, Kunsthaus Essen
2017DAS ESSZIMMER goes Weltraum, Space for art, Basel, CH
LEARNING FROM BIG MISTAKES, Galerie Tanja Wagner, New York, US
2016PAINTING IS A PAINTING IS A PAINTING, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin
201510 PICKS, CCA Kunsthalle Andratx, ES
FIRST FLUSH, Bayer Kulturhaus, Leverkusen
2014HÄNGENGEBLIEBEN, Kunsthalle Recklinghausen
EGO EDITIONS, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin
2013KUNSTPREIS JUNGER WESTEN, Kunsthalle Recklinghausen
STILLE WAHRNEHMUNG, KIT Kunst im Tunnel, Düsseldorf
2012USING PHOTOGRAPHY, Künstlerhaus Dortmund
HUMAN MACHINE, with Bernd & Hilla Becher, Kunsthalle Darmstadt
DISCUSSING METAMODERNISM, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin
2011BERGISCHE KUNSTAUSSTELLUNG, Kunstmuseum Solingen
ALLES IN EIN SACKERL, Kulturdrogerie, Vienna, AT
2010STOCKWERK ZWÖLF, Collab with NRW Forum and Grieger, Düsseldorf
THE DOOR OPENS UP INWARDS, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin
EXCHANGE MUC-DUS, White Box e.V., Munich
2009ALL YOU CAN EAT, Anna Klinkhammer Galerie, Düsseldorf
NOVEMBER, Villa Goecke, Krefeld
SAATCHI Gallery Mess Café, London, UK
Kulturbahnhof Eller, Düsseldorf
2008SCOPE BASEL, Saatchi Online artists show, Basel, CH
VALPERGA, Anna Klinkhammer Galerie, Düsseldorf
2007KLASSE IMMENDORFF – VON PFERDEN UND AFFEN, Museum Ludwig, Koblenz
NICHTS WAS WIR WÜNSCHEN ALLES, Museum, Lörrach

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ARTICLES

2025KUNSTFORUM International, Review of THINKING LIKE A MOUNTAIN at Märkisches Museum Witten by Claudia Posca, No. 303
2024KUNSTFORUM International, Atelierbesuch bei Angelika J. Trojnarski in Düsseldorf by Ann-Katrin Günzel, No. 294
Rheinische Post, Zwischen Natur und Apokalypse by Helga Meister, 08/30/2024
2023kultur.west, Cover and feature, Was mich bewegt... by Stefanie Stadel, February issue
2022KUNSTFORUM International, Exkurse – Wege durch die Elemente der Landschaftswelten, No. 284
rhineart.com, review by Marina Sammeck, Düsseldorf, April
2021VAST art magazine, Feature in the print issue No. 2 with an additional online interview Extraordinary Phenomena of Nature, March, US
2020Die Poesie der Analyse, EVOLVE Magazin, Issue No. 26
Was die Welt im Innersten zusammenhält, KUNSTBAR Contemporary Art, 08/13/2020
20193 minutes : 3 questions : 3 answers, by PPPortrait
2018Angelika J. Trojnarski at Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin, ARTFORUM International, US, Feb issue
2016Kugelblitz und Parabolschüssel, art Magazin, Dec issue
Science Meets Art, Dallas Morning News, US, 03/28/2016
No Escape with Angelika J. Trojnarski, Düsseldorf, renk. magazine, 10/10/2016
Ein Tag mit… Angelika J. Trojnarski, Düsseldorf, THE DORF, 05/01/2016
2015Kunsthochschulen zu Gast, KUNSTstoff, Das Bayer Kultur-Magazin, No. 29, 2015
2013Mit Leidenschaft die Blitze ableiten, TAZ Berlin, 11/21/2013
Die Kunst der stillen Wahrnehmung, Rheinische Post, 09/24/2013
Die Kraft der Ruhe, Der Westen, 09/20/2013
Die Künstlerin als Forscherin, Der Westen, 09/12/2013
2012Mensch Maschine, KUNSTFORUM, Band 216, page 290, 2012
Apokalyptische Reiter, Neue Frankfurter Presse, 05/18/2012
Newtons Energie-Gesetz auf der Leinwand, WAZ Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, 11/30/2012
2011Mit diesem Schiff stirbt die Welt, Berliner Zeitung, No 166, 2011
Angelika J. Trojnarski – Viele Realitäten, Biograph, September issue
2010The door opens inwards, Notes on metamodernism, 10/10/2010
Traumtänze, Tagesspiegel, 10/09/2010
Untergangsstimmung im Abenteuerland, WZ Westdeutsche Zeitung, 08/19/2010
Radar, art Das Kunstmagazin, May issue, 2010

MONOGRAPHS

2023Angelika J. Trojnarski – NOBLE EARTH, essays by Ann-Katrin Günzel and Jurriaan Benschop, published with DCV Berlin
2017S T U D E O, essays by Isabelle v. Rundstedt and Darren Jones, Düsseldorf
2014LIAISON, Frank Vits Collection, essay by Gregor Jansen, Düsseldorf
2013FRAGEN AN DIE UNBELEBTE NATUR, Kunstverein Recklinghausen
2011OBSERVATION OF NATURE, Galerie Tanja Wagner, essay by Thomas W. Kuhn, Berlin

ARTIST BOOKS

2018UNIVERSELL, Lepsien Art Foundation, Düsseldorf & Luxemburg

CATALOGUES

2024REALITY CHECK, Kunstmuseum Ahlen, essay by Dr. Marina Padberg
2023Gregor Guski – DIE SZENE, essays by
Julia Stellmann and Katharina Wettwer, Düsseldorf
2019Neue Galerie Gladbeck – REVIEW 2009-2018, essays by Christoph Tannert and Thomas Hirsch, Gladbeck
2015FIRST FLUSH, Bayer Kulturhaus, Leverkusen
2014HÄNGENGEBLIEBEN, Kunsthalle Recklinghausen
2013KUNSTPREIS JUNGER WESTEN 2013, essay by Thomas Hirsch, Kunsthalle Recklinghausen
2012RISING – young artists to keep an eye on, essay by Thomas W. Kuhn, daap media, Köln
2011BERGISCHE KUNSTAUSSTELLUNG, Solingen
2010THE DOOR OPENS UP INWARDS, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin
STOCKWERK ZWÖLF, NRW Forum and GRIEGER, Düsseldorf
2007KLASSE IMMENDORFF – VON PFERDEN UND AFFEN, Museum Ludwig, Koblenz
NICHTS WAS WIR WÜNSCHEN ALLES, Museum Lörrach

CURATORIAL PROJECTS

2019to 2022: project space Curated Affairs, Düsseldorf
2016Das Moment, Neue Galerie Gladbeck,
showing Franziska Holstein, Anne Neukamp, Anja Schwörer, Claudia Wieser
2015to 2017: project space TRABANTEN, Düsseldorf
2011project space ExPeZe Experimentierzelle, Düsseldorf