Curriculum Vitae

Born *1966 in Hamburg, Germany as Sylke von Gazen genannt Gaza

Biography

The Hamburg-born artist Sylke von Gaza was first taken to Italy as a three-year-old by her great-grandmother, whom she accompanied on long journeys to Venice and the Emilia-Romagna. It was during those childhood visits to the churches of Ravenna and Venice, to name but a few, that she first came to appreciate painting and architecture. The experience made a lasting impression and continues to inspire her work to this day.

After her engineering degree in Hamburg, as a student of painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich (awarded title “Meisterschülerin”, 2002-2007) under the Irish painter Sean Scully she found herself drawn to the Old Masters and their manner of painting again. Artist residencies in New York (2000 & Art Students League 2005), Venice (2011-2019) and Zurich (2016).

In Sylke von Gaza’s creative practice, the veil, the metaphor for interstices and permeability, plays a central role. Half hidden, half visible. The ability to disclose by concealing, to render visible by shrouding – the artist has internalised this fundamental potential of painting and made it central to her work. ‘I am intrigued by transformations and their manifold forms and effects. What is the universal essence of transformation? Transformation and transubstantiation have a sublime, lofty quality and imply a form of enrichment or enhancement. The process is usually shrouded in secrecy, hidden from sight as if by veils. It is this invisible process that interests me. I want to make the invisible visible.’ Her work thus far can be divided into different strands. Her principal body of work consists of Early Works, individual works, themed groups of works, site-specific works and the series of Veil Paintings, among them the Grey Veil Paintings and Red Veil Paintings.

Most recent museum shows in Sprengel Museum Hannover: BIG! Large-format Works from the Sprengel Museum Hannover, 2021, curated by Director Dr. Reinhard Spieler and in Museum Kunstpalast Düsseldorf: Behind the Curtain. Concealment and Revelation since the Renaissance. From Titian to Christo, 2016/17, curated by General Director Beat Wismer and Prof. Dr. Claudia Blümle. Among exhibitions since her graduation are shows in Hamburg (Sotheby’s: INTRO|RETRO|SPECTIVE), Munich (Galerie Biedermann: Malerei, 2009, Velvet & Paper, 2019; ArtConsult: Spirituality in Painting, 2013), London (Rich Gallery: Process of Creation, 2009), Venice (Palazzo Martinengo Fortuny: Early Works, 2019; Palazzo Contarini Polignac: Gabriel & Lucifero. The Most Precious Pigment of Renaissance Venice, 2018; Museo Diocesano d’Arte Sacra Sant’ Apollonia: Fabrica Ecclesiae, 2016; Ca’ del Duca: Light and Painting, 2011), Düsseldorf (Galerie Beck & Eggeling: Colour Turns Me On, 2024; Galerie Hans Strelow: Summertime, 2017), Palermo (Museo Riso, Cappella dell'Incoronazione: BIAS, 2018) and  Zurich (Villa von Schulthess-Bodmer: Private View, 2016). Collaboration for works in glass since 2011: Fornace Mattiello, Murano (2011); Hofglasmalerei Gustav van Treeck, München (2013); Adriano Berengo, Berengo Studio, Murano (2014-17).

Since 2013, in collaboration with Curia Patriarcale di Venezia, Sylke von Gaza has been painting in several churches in Venice: Chiesa San Fantin (2014), Chiesa San Lio (Project Beyond the Veil, 2015), Cappella Santissima Trinità (Seminario Patriarcale, Basilica della Salute, 2016). In 2015, during the Venice Biennale, the Curia Patriarcale di Venezia commissioned a permanent work contribution to the Gussoni Renaisscance chapel in Chiesa San Lio, Venice (Gussoni Red Veil Paintings Triptych). At the invitation of the Seminario Patriarcale di Venezia Sylke von Gaza was creating the project Il Nido. A Pilgrimage towards Equilibrium for the Padiglioni Paralleli in the Basilica Santa Maria della Salute to coincide with the 57th International Art Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia 2017. In spring 2019, the installation Il Nido travelled on to Gedächtniskirche in Berlin.

Read more about artist Sylke von Gaza on Wikipedia ▸

Facts & Figures 2007 - 2024

Exhibitions (selection)

• 2024: Colour Turns Me On, Gallery Beck & Eggeling, Düsseldorf More ▸

• 2023: HIGHLIGHTS, International Art Fair, Gallery Drawing Room, Munich More ▸

• 2023: INTRO|RETRO|SPECTIVE, Sotheby’s, Hamburg (solo) More ▸

• 2021: BIG! Large-format Works form the Sprengel Museum Hannover More ▸

• 2020: Rückblick Ausblick, Gallery Biedermann, Munich

• 2019: Early Works, Palazzo Martinengo Fortuny, Venice (solo) More ▸

• 2019: Il Nido at Gedächtniskirche, Berlin (solo) More ▸

• 2019: Velvet & Paper, Gallery Biedermann, Munich (solo) More ▸

• 2018: Gabriel & Lucifero. The most precious Pigment of Renaissance Venice, Palazzo Contarini Polignac, Venice (solo) More ▸

• 2018: BIAS Biennale Internazionale 2018, Museo Riso, Capella dell'Incoronazione, Palermo More ▸

• 2018: Il Nido inside Basilica Santa Maria della Salute, Venice (solo) More ▸

• 2018: Il Nido at cloister of Seminario Patriarcale, Venice (solo)

• 2017: Il Nido. A Pilgrimage towards Equilibrium, project start for Padiglioni Paralleli of Curia Patriarcale di Venezia and glasswork with Berengo Studio, Murano, during 57th Venice Biennale, at Basilica Madonna della Salute, Osservatorio del Seminario Patriarcale, Punta della Dogana, Venice (solo) More ▸

• 2017: Summertime: Brüning, Erben, von Gaza, Huidobro, Merschmann, Münch, Gallery Hans Strelow, Düsseldorf

• 2017: 52th Art Cologne, Gallery Hans Strelow, Cologne More ▸

• 2016/17: Behind the Curtain. Concealment and Revelation since the Renaissance. From Titian to Cristo, curated by Beat Wismer and Prof. Dr. Claudia Blümle, Museum Kunstpalast Düsseldorf More ▸

• 2016: Private View Villa von Schulthess-Bodmer, Zürich (solo) More ▸

• 2016: Fabrica Ecclesiae, Museo Diocesano d'Arte Sacra Sant' Apollonia, San Marco, Venice

• 2015: Beyond the Veil, project with and commission for Curia Patriarcale di Venezia during 56th Venice Biennale, Chiesa San Lio, Venice (solo) More ▸

• 2014: Power of Glass, Hofglasmalerei Gustav van Treeck, Munich More ▸

• 2013: Handwerk und Kirche, Gallery Handwerk of Chamber of Commerce of Munich and Upper Bavaria in collaboration with Erzbischöfliches Ordinariat München, Carmelite Church of St. Nicholas, Munich More ▸

• 2013: Spirituality in Painting, Gallery Art Consult, Munich (solo)

• 2012: Positionswechsel, BayWa, Munich

• 2011: Light & Painting, Palazzo Ca' del Duca, Venice (solo)

• 2010: Jahresgaben, Munich Art Society, Munich

• 2009: The Process of Creation, Rich Gallery, London (solo)

• 2009: Malerei, Gallery Biedermann, Munich (solo)

• 2008: Jahresausstellung des 15. Kunstpreises, Aichach Art Society, Aichach

• 2007: Jahresausstellung, Traunstein Art Society, Traustein

• 2007: Diplomausstellung Abschlussklasse Prof. Sean Scully, Akademie der Bildenden Künste München, Munich

Timeline

• 2020: Decamerone, Berghütten-Atelier am Heimgarten, Murnau

• 2012 - 2019: Studio San Gregorio, Palazzo Martinengo Fortuny, Venice

• 2017: Participation in Padiglioni Paralleli of Curia Patriarcale di Venezia for 57th Venice Biennale

• 2017: Atelier in Osservatorio del Seminario Patriarcale di Venezia, Basilica della Salute, Punta della Dogana, Venice; Glass work, Studio Berengo, Murano

• 2016: Atelier in Cappella Santissima Trinità, Seminario Patriarcale di Venezia, Basilica della Salute, Venice; Atelier in Villa von Schulthess-Bodmer, Zurich

• 2015: Atelier in Cappella Gussoni, Chiesa San Lio, Venice; permanent work contribution to the Gussoni Renaisance Chapel in Chiesa San Lio, commissioned by the Curia Patriarcale di Venezia

• 2013 - 2014: Atelier in Chiesa San Fantin, Venice

• 2013: Glass work, Hofglasmalerei Gustav van Treeck, Munich

• 2011: Artist-Residence in Palazzo Ca’ del Duca, Venice; Glass work, Fornace Mattiello, Murano

• 2007: Graduated from the Akademie der Bildenden Künste München, awarded title “Meisterschülerin” ("summa cum laude")

• 2005: Artist-Residence in New York

• 2002 - 2007: Studied painting at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste München (Academy of the Visual Arts in Munich, Germany) under Prof. Sean Scully

• 2000: Art Students League, New York

• 1989 - 1990: Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen at Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel

• 1985 - 1989: Diplom-Ingenieurin (Dipl.Ing.) at Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften HAW Hamburg

• 1966: Born Sylke von Gazen genannt Gaza in Hamburg

Public & Private Collections

• Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Munich

• Museo Diocesano d'Arte Sacra Sant' Apollonia, San Marco, Venice

• Sammlung Schnetkamp, Düsseldorf/Oldenburg

• Collezione Seminario Patriarcale di Venezia, Venice

• Sammlung Hackenberg, München

• Sprengel Museum Hannover More ▸

Recognition

• 2007: Meisterschülerin ("summa cum laude") in Fine Arts at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste München under Prof. Sean Scully.

• 2015: Work commission for Gussoni Renaissance Chapel by Curia Patriarcale di Venezia More ▸

• 2017 Invitation to Padiglioni Paralleli for the for 57th Venice Biennale by Curia Patriarcale di Venezia More ▸

Permanent Installations

• since 2015: Gussoni Red Veil Triptych, Gussoni Renaissance Chapel, Chiesa San Lio, Venice More ▸

Bibliography

• Reinhard Spieler: BIG! Large-Format Works from the Sprengel Museum Hannover, exhibition catalogue Sprengel Museum Hannover, Hannover 2021. More ▸

• Tim Ackermann: Eier und Eiermann - das Kunstwerk "Il Nido" gastiert in der Berliner Gedächtniskirche, Weltkunst 8. Juni 2019, Berlin/Hamburg 2019. More ▸

• Julian Bruno Vogel: Himmel über Berlin. Die Installation Il Nido der deutschen Künstlerin Sylke von Gaza macht Halt im Alten Turm der Gedächtniskirche zu Berlin, Zeitkunst (5/2019), Neu-Isenburg, 2019. More ▸

• Ein Nest für die Gedächtniskirche, Berliner Morgenpost 29/4/2019, Berlin 2019. More ▸

• Tim Jäger: Das Nest in der Gedächtniskirche, RBB Abendschau/ARD 27/4/2019, Berlin 2019. More ▸

• Tim Ackermann: Il Nido - Venedigs geheimes Nest, Weltkunst 8. December 2017, Berlin/Hamburg 2017. More ▸

• Guido Brivio: Mysterium Coniunctionis. Gabriel & Lucifero by Sylke von Gaza, Venezia & Torino 2017. More ▸

• Alan Jones: „As High as the Eagle“ - Sylke von Gaza’s Installation „Il Nido“ in Venice, Venezia 2017. More ▸

• Petra Schaefer: Hoch über den Kirchendächern von Venedig. Die deutsche Künstlerin Sylke von Gaza präsentiert die Installation "Il Nido", Zeitkunst (11/2017), Neu-Isenburg 2017. More ▸

• Irmgard Bernrieder: Dem Blick entrückte Huldigung, Textcluster 29. November 2017, Brüggen 2017.

• Beat Wismer, Claudia Blümle (Ed.): Hinter dem Vorhang. Verhüllung und Enthüllung seit der Renaissance – von Tizian bis Christo, with contributions by Horst Bredekamp, Georges Didi-Huberman, Wolfgang Kemp, Roland Krischel, Oskar Bätschmann, Lia Bertram, Dortje Fink, Vincent von Frankenberg, Klaus Krüger, Saskia C. Quené, Patrik Reuterswärd, Julia Ryll, Barbara Schnellewald, Beate Söntgen, Victor I. Stoichita and Gerhard Wolf, exhibition catalogue Museum Kunstpalast Düsseldorf, Hirmer, Munich 2016.

• Helga Meister: Im Ehrenhof wird der Vorhang gelüftet, Westdeutsche Zeitung WZ 30 September 2017, Wuppertal, Krefeld, Düsseldorf 2016.

• Thomas Köster: "Hinter dem Vorhang" im Museum Kunstpalast, Westdeutscher Rundfunk WDR 30 September 2016, Cologne 2016.

• Tim Ackermann: Venedig wird abstrakt, Weltkunst 106 (10/2015), Berlin/Hamburg 2015. More ▸

• Gianmatteo Caputo: Beyond the Veil: Red Veil Paintings nella Chiesa di San Lio, Uffici Beni Culturali & Turismo della Curia Patriarcale di Venezia UBC, Venice 2015. More ▸

• Gustav van Treeck (Ed.): Power of Glass, exhibition catalogue, Munich 2014. More ▸

• Maurits J. Sinninghe Damsté: Sylke von Gaza's paintings: Sacraments of a Deeper Reality, Groningen-Leeuwarden 2013. More ▸

• Laura Schwarz: Schichtarbeit, Architectural Digest AD (10/2013), Munich 2013.

• Jolanda Drexler: Sylke von Gaza in Conversation with Jolanda Drexler, Artology 2 (2013), Munich 2013. More ▸

• Florian Seidl (Ed.): Jahresgaben 2010, Kunstverein München e.V., Munich 2010.

• Steven Rich (Ed.): Sylke von Gaza: Red Veil Paintings. The Process of Creation, London 2009.

• Petra Giloy-Hirtz: From the Grey to the Colourful. Interview with Sylke von Gaza, Munich 2008. More ▸

• Martin H. Schmidt: Die Schleier der Sylke von Gaza – Who is afraid of grey, white and red?, Kronberg 2007. More ▸

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