CV
Julia Münstermann
(1977, Cologne, Germany) is a visual artist based in Berlin and Hamburg.
Her work revolves around light and the visualisation of the invisible in art and science. She explores how our perception changes through the technical image and how our visible world expands through scientific progress. In her ongoing research, she is deeply involved with problems of scientific visualization that go beyond the borders of the visible, delving into the microscopic world of elementary particles and the macroscopic world of astrophysics.
Challenging the depiction of light and the intangible, in her work, the layering of paint results in a transient shimmer—a surface that, on the one hand, creates a sense of depth, and on the other, confronts the viewer with an impenetrable barrier: a hermetic refusal of customary reference. By failing to provide a central motif, the seamless transitions and endless depth of these paintings become disorienting and instead reinforce the sense that we are looking at absolute non-representation. And yet, there we are, by ourselves, oddly affected, staring into their cool emptiness.
Münstermann studied at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf with Prof. Jörg Immendorff and Prof. Jan Dibbets, where she received her Diploma and Master in Fine Art. Following this, she attended De Ateliers in Amsterdam, a prestigious two-year studio program and fellowship supported by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science. During this time, she benefited from frequent studio visits by renowned artists such as Marlene Dumas, Georg Herold, Rita McBride, Steve McQueen, Ceal Floyer, Willem de Rooij, and Toon Verhoef. Recently, she has also participated in residencies in New York and Beijing.
She was awarded the Kunstfonds Arbeitsstipendium (a one-year scholarship by the German state) in 2021 and Neustart Kultur (a six-month scholarship by the German state) in 2022. She also won the Dutch Buning Brongers Painting Award in 2004 and was shortlisted for the Koninklijke Prijs voor Vrije Schilderkunst in 2004, 2005, and 2008 (the Queen's Painting Award and Exhibition).
Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Museum der Arbeit Hamburg and DESY research center, Nali Nali Art Space in Beijing, De Vleeshal in Middelburg, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, Autocenter Berlin, and DadaPost in Berlin. Additionally, her work has been shown in galleries such as Cosar HMT in Düsseldorf and Aschenbach & Hofland in Amsterdam. Münstermann's work has been reviewed in various media such as RBB television, Deutschlandradio Kultur, Studio 9, NDR Kultur (public radio), NRC Handelsblad, taz (newspapers), and ART and Junge Kunst art magazines.
Münstermann is actively involved in ongoing art and science projects with the research center DESY (German Electron Synchrotron), the Cluster of Excellence “Quantum Universe,” and the University of Hamburg. Her engagement with scientific research began in 2017 with the DARK MATTER exhibition at DESY and has led to her co-organizing and participating in the newly founded ARTSCIENCELAB in Hamburg. The inaugural exhibition, FORCES OF ATTRACTION, took place in 2024. Her film, ENTROPY, premiered at the 2024 Hamburg Short Film Festival.
born in Cologne, lives and works in Berlin and Hamburg. She is currently fellow of the Stiftung Kunstfonds Neustart Kultur
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EDUCATION
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2002-2004
De Ateliers Amsterdam, zweijähriges Studioprogramm und Stipendium mit regelmäßigen Atelierbesuchen von Künstlern wie Marlene Dumas, Georg Herold, Rita McBride, Steve McQueen, Ceal Floyer, Willem de Rooij und Toon Verhoef
2002
Meisterschüler bei Prof. Jan Dibbets
1997-2002
Studium an der Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, Klasse Prof. Jörg Immendorff, Klasse Prof. Jan Dibbets, Akademiebrief (2004)
1998-2001
Studium der Philosophie an der Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf
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AWARDS
2024
Kurzfilmfestival Hamburg, selected
2022
NEUSTART KULTUR 2022, Stiftung Kunstfonds
2021
Arbeitsstipendium 2021, Stiftung Kunstfonds
2020
NEUSTART, Modul A, BBK Bundesverband
2004
Buning Brongers Prijzen (Painting Prize)
2003, 02
Jahresstipendium des Niederländischen Ministeriums für Bildung, Kultur und Wissenschaft
2004, 05, 08
Koninklijke Prijs voor vrije Schilderkunst, Königinnenpreis für Malerei (Endauswahl)
RESIDENCIES
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2013
Artist Residency “Where Where Art Space”, Beijing, China
2010
Zwei-monatiger Atelier-Austausch, Brooklyn, New York
2002-2005
Amsterdam, Niederlande
2002-2004
Residency und Stipendium der Stiftung “De Ateliers” Amsterdam
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PROJECTS
2022
Wie alles begann, collaboration between art and science for the exhibition at Museum der Arbeit, Hamburg, in collaboration with Universität Hamburg and DESY as part of the Exzellenzcluster Quantum Universe
Taming of Chance, participation on the project of Olsen Wolf together with Christian Schwanenberger, Deichtorhallen, Hamburg
2021, 2017
Werktalk, artist talk Berlin
2017
Dark Matter - Art meets Science, collaboration between art and science at DESY, Hamburg
2015
Organisation of the exhibition Memories of the Digital Age, rosalux, Berlin
2011
Artistic realisation and collaboration on the Project “Meine O- Vision”, Zoom Berlin, Axel Springer Akademie (European Newspaper Award)
2003-2008
Actress in short films and video installations by Keren Cytter: Date Series, 2004, Atmosphere 2005, Teufelsberg 2008, etc.
1998-1999
Assistent of Prof. Jörg Immendorff
SOLO SHOWS (Selection)
2024
Visualising the Invisible, Tiny Gallery CERN, im Rahmen der Science Week Berlin
2023
12 x 1, Galerie Watson, Jupiter Hamburg zusammen mit Jacqueline Hen
2022
Entropic Matter, Projektraum nationalmuseum, Berlin
2019
Obscure Transparency, plan.d. Düsseldorf, zusammen mit Katja Gärtner
2018
Celestial Screens, Kuturforum Kapelle, Waltrop
2015
Electric Shadow, Freiraum Galerie, Köln
2013
Beijing de tiankong, Nali Nali Art Space, Beijing China
Fernsehen, Punt WG, Amsterdam
2012
Abwesen, Koffer, Berlin
Urban Idols II, Deutscher Städtetag, Köln
2011
Aerials, Aschenbach&Hofland Galleries, Amsterdam
Bluemoon, Cussler, Berlin
2009
Aerospace, DadaPost, Berlin
2008
Urban Idols,Autocenter, Berlin
2007
Prospect, Aschenbach&Hofland Galleries, Amsterdam
2006
City Oddity, De Kabinetten van de Vleeshal, Middelburg, Catalogue
Walking on Air, Aschenbach&Hofland Galleries, Amsterdam
2005
Paintings, Galerie Michael Cosar, Düsseldorf
Revealing Revels with Rebels, Galerie Van Wijngaarden Hakkens, Amsterdam
2004
Paintings, Galerie Michael Cosar, Düsseldorf, together with Christian Forsen
toshi-saikousoku-syoujyo yulica ga, fuji-park building, Tokyo, together with Mineo Kato
Paintings, de Ateliers, Amsterdam
GROUP SHOWS (Selection)
2025
SONNE, MOND UND KOMETEN, Kunstverein Buchholz/Nordheide
2024
Yeosu International Art Festival, Korea
Forces of Attraction, DESY, Hamburg
Anthroposzenische Landschaften, GaDeWe – Galerie des Westens, Bremen,
Galerie Perpetuel, Frankfurt und Atelierhof Kreuzberg, Berlin
Licht, Taylor Wessing, Hamburg
3yy, Red Ger Gallery, Mongolian Arts Council, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolei
2023
HIGH ENERGY, ART MEETS SCIENCE, EPS-HEP Conference, Grindel, Hamburg
2022
Wie alles begann, Museum der Arbeit, Hamburg
Was ist Fiktion? - Kunst und Wissenschaft im Dialog, Künstlerhaus Sootbörn HH
2021
New Order, PR17, Berlin
2018
Precurse, Park Place Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Babettes Best Records, Bar Babette, Berlin
2017
Dark Matter - Art Meets Science, DESY, Hamburg
Standard International #4 Spatial Clearings, Glint, Berlin
2015
HIDDEN IMAGES, 51 Zattere, Venedig
Memories of the Digital Age, Rosalux, Berlin
trinkets for the rich, nationalmuseum, Berlin
HIDDEN IMAGES second edition, 51 Zattere, Venedig
I Amsterdam You Berlin, Galerie Brandt, St. Johannes Evangelist Church, Berlin
2014
Koffer-Konzentrat, Koffer, Berlin
Show me (Your Idols), Kreuzberg Pavillion, Berlin
UTA, ART WEISSENSEE, Kunsthalle am Hamburger Platz, Berlin
Art is a Beautiful Thing, Freiraum Galerie, Köln
PAN Amsterdam, Galerie Brandt, Amsterdam
2012
Choses vues à Droite et à Gauche (sans lunettes), l’oiseau presente..., Ballhaus Ost, Berlin
Miniature by Serendipity, Kosmetiksalon Babette, Berlin
2011
The Raising of Lazarus, Projectspace Nationalmuseum, Berlin
2010
Traveling without moving, CosarHMT, Düsseldorf
Girls overkill, Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin
SOS Kunststück 2010, Grand Elysee, Hamburg, Katalog
2008
Koninklijke Prijs voor vrije Schilderkunst 2008, Gemeentemuseum, Den Haag
Precurse, Pojektraum Nationalmuseum, Berlin
Our Project Presents Our Project, AiB, Brooklyn, New York
Preview Berlin, Aschenbach&Hofland Galleries
2007
ART Cologne, Galerie Michael Cosar, Aschenbach&Hofland Galleries
DK, Edition, Pro qm, Berlin
ART Amsterdam, Aschenbach&Hofland Galleries, Galerie Michael Cosar
2006
Spooky, Stanley Brouwn Huis, Utrecht
ART Cologne, Galerie Michael Cosar, Aschenbach&Hofland Galleries
2005
Koninklijke Prijs voor vrije Schilderkunst 2005, Gemeentemuseum, Den Haag
2004
Buning Brongers Prijzen 2004, Arti et Amicitae, Amsterdam, Katalog
Koninklijke Prijs voor vrije Schilderkunst 2004, Koninklijke Palais te Amsterdam
When dreams come true, Van Wijngaarden Hakkens, Amsterdam
Group show 86, Amsterdam
2002
Menschenbilder, Wissenschaftszentrum Gelsenkirchen
Art&Bars, Kunsthalle Koblenz
Cabinet with outfit, Galerie Andreas Bruening, Düsseldorf
2000
real, Bittweg, Düsseldorf
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PUBLICATIONS
2020
CMYK, Edition Memory-Spiel
2017
Kunst im Teilchenbeschleuniger: Neues Licht ins Dunkel, taz
2014
Autocenter, Space for Contemporary Art Berlin, Distanz Verlag
2013
Abwesen, catalogue, Text Maarten Bertheux
Britain and Germany Imagining the Future of Europe, Leonard Novy, Palgrave Macmillan, Cover
2011
Stilbruch, Tipp von Christian Stahl, RBB Fernsehen
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2010
Künstlerische Doppelexistenzen, Junge Kunst, Text Julia Brodauf
2009
Wenn die Städte nachts leuchten, Mercedesmagazin, Text Robert Zsolnay
Aerospace, DadaPost, exhibition catalogue
2008
Urban Idols, Autocenter, exhibition catalogue
2007
Betoverende schilderijen van nachtelijke hemels, NRC Handelsblad, (NL)
Prospect, Aschenbach&Hofland Galleries, exhibition catalogue
2006
City Oddity, De Vleeshal, exhibition catalogue, Text Dominic van den Boogerd
Zon schuift versneld over tegelvloer, NRC Handelsblad
2004
Buning Brongers Pijzen 2004, exhibition catalogue
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Deutscher Städtetag, Cologne
Caldic Collection, The Netherlands
De Heus – Zomer collection, The Netherlands
Coma collection, The Netherlands
Sparkassen Informatik, Frankfurt
Boekel De Neree N.V., The Netherlands
& several private collections in Germany and the Netherlands