Xantophylle, 2026

Barbara Ellmerer  

In her works, the artist alternates perspectives—from the external appearance of a plant to its internal structures. Ellmerer is interested in the biological processes and forces at work within plants. In her Atomjump series, for example, she explored the behavior of cold atoms.

Ellmerer's work translates into the medium of painting an understanding of the forces at work within a cell. To achieve this, the artist sometimes uses unusual painting techniques such as silver nitrate, lacquers, and fluorescent colors on canvas or paper. When ductus and composition are no longer sufficient for the artist to represent these concentrated forces, she resorts to vibrant colors like fluorescent green or bright pink.

Barbara Ellmerer (born in 1956) exhibits her work continuously in international galleries and museums. Her works have been shown at the Casa Museo Mariátegui in Lima, Peru; the Chiang Mai Social Installation (CMSI) at the invitation of the Goethe-Institut in Bangkok, Thailand; the Museum of Art and History in Neuchâtel, Switzerland; the Kunsthaus Langenthal, Switzerland; and the Kunsthaus Biel Centre d'art Bienne, Switzerland, as part of the exhibition (Un)Certain Ground - Aktuelle Malerei in der Schweiz (Un)Certain Ground - Current Painting in Switzerland—to name just a few. Her works are represented in numerous public collections.