Katja Wittmer

I create Art to explore my own emotional abyss and through my work I encourage others to do the same. My paintings are multi layered, merging both abstract and figurative elements, with a strong emphasis on colour and how colour drives personal associations. The central theme in my work is "looking behind the curtain", as I am fascinated by the exploration of the hidden. I work with bold colours and strong textures to provoke movement, elicit mysticism, and engage the viewer's subconscious.

I work in acrylic and mixed media on Canvas and encaustic and oils on wood. My style is provocative and engaging. I create multiple layers and structures, suggesting movement and change.

In my paintings I explore the complex facets of humankind- highs and lows, light and shadows, beauty and distortion, love and hate.

Education:

1993 - 1997 Auburn University - Bachelor of Fine Arts with cum laude honours. Petty Hood Poorman scholarship recipient
2008-2009 Custom House Studios Mayo 
2009-2012 Tulla Stables Studios 
2022 Glor Mentorship award recipient encaustic painting

Awards & Distinctions:

Betty Hood Poorman scholarship
Glor mentorship award

Exhibitions:

Solo exhibitions

1998 Colonial Bank, Mobile, USA
1999 Personal Expressions, GC Inc., Manila, Philippines
2000 Bodies and Faces, Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines
2001 A Foreign Perspective, Montblanc Gallery, Hong Kong
Deutsche Bank 24, Munich, Germany
2002 Under The Surface, Pasinger Fabrik, Munich, Germany
2003 Confrontation, Galerie 71, BMW, Munich, Germany
2004 Recent Paintings, Audi Akademie, Ingolstadt, Germany
2005 Past & Present, Hacienda Gallery, Mumbai, India
2008 Meet Me, Scariff Library, Scariff, Ireland
2009 Out of the Dark, Custom House Studios, Westport, Ireland
2010 (E)motion, Watergate Theatre Gallery, Kilkenny, Ireland 
Exposed, Orangerie Englischer Garten, Munich, Germany
2020 Transient, New Works by Katja Wittmer, Virtual Exhibition Kunstmatrix
2021 REGENERATION / Market Hall Gallery - Iniscealtra Arts Festival Mountshannon, Ireland
2022 Textured / Courthouse Gallery - Ennistymon, Ireland
If not now then when! / Scariff Library Gallery - Scariff, Ireland

Group exhibitions

1998 Dreamland, Agora Gallery, NYC, USA
1999 Danny Barr Gallery, Sta. Maria, USA
2000 Wege zur Sinnlichkeit, WUK, Vienna, Austria
2001 Alte Schieberkammer, Vienna, Austria
2003 Mail-Art, Kunsthalle Kempten, Germany
2006 Blicklichter, Galerie der Dinge, Munich, Germany
2008 Snap To Grid, Los Angeles Centre for Digital Art, USA
2009 Sea, Shore, Sky Gallery, Westport, Ireland
2010 Custom House Studios, Westport, Ireland
Postcards to the G8, Chapel Gallery, Ontario, Canada
Back to the Source, Iniscealtra Arts Festival, Ireland
2011 Voice, Iniscealtra Arts Festival, Mountshannon. Ireland
Solas, Glor Gallery, Ennis, Ireland
Mad Art Gallery, Dublin, Ireland
2012 Berliner Liste 2012- Fair for contemporary Art
2017 Galerie Sophisticated Munich
2020 Winter Open Exhibition, Ennistymon Courthouse Gallery, Ireland