Bettina Blohm

Biography:

Bettina Blohm (b.1961, Hamburg, Germany) lives and works in New York and Berlin. She studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich (1980-1984). In 1984, she moved to New York City, establishing a second studio in Berlin in 2008. Recent solo exhibitions include Biedermann Gallery, Munich (2023), Werner Klein Gallery, Cologne (2022), Furnace_Art on Paper, Falls Village Connecticut (2021), Kajetan Gallery, Berlin (2020). Recent institutional exhibitions include Museum Ritter, Stuttgart (2022), Museum Pfalzgalerie, Kaiserslautern (2021), Berlinische Galerie (2020), Haus am Waldsee im Bikini(solo), Berlin (2018), The Painting Center, New York (2016), among others. Her work is represented in numerous permanent collections, including Busch Reisinger Museum Harvard, Museum Ritter, Stuttgart,  Städel Museum, Frankfurt, Kunsthalle Bremen, Berlinische Galerie and Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich.

 

Statement:

Over the years, I have developed a vocabulary of shapes and gestures, a limited set of tools, with which I work. Concentrating on square, grid, meander, and maze, I am exploring variations of a particular idea. I think of the shapes as players, with the field echoing their moves.

Working intuitively, the imagery evolves over time through a process of layering, washing off and letting underpaint stay visible. I want the paint surface to show the process of its making, to develop a history like a character in a play. The curiosity where each painting will lead me is most important.

All sorts of things can trigger visual ideas. I use a meandering line to create the gridded space, adding hand-drawn elements in a method akin to writing. Lines slip, and tilt or bend the space, the works have an appearance of being in flux, of unstable geometry. I am interested in order and organization and then the braking out of that. Freedom, accident.

Paintings are material objects, but they also tell a story. For the ancient Greeks, the meander symbolized infinity and the flow of human life. In contrast, the square is an icon of power, symbolizing stability, and order. The gate as a threshold between here and there, a gateway from one state to another.

Working in a predominantly monochrome mode, with variations of tone and shifting lines of various thickness, I develop a kind of intermediate space. Many diaphanous layers are contrasted with a dominant color, which sits on the surface and functions like a gate to that which lies beyond.

 

Résumé:

Biography

1961                  born in Hamburg, Germany                                                                  

1980 – 84          studies painting at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich  

1984                  moves to New York City

2003                  becomes US citizen

2008                  establishes a second studio in Berlin, Germany

 

Solo exhibitions (selected):

2023                 “Bettina Blohm – Works on Paper”, Gallery Biedermann, Munich

2022                 “Daylight” Werner Klein Gallery, Cologne

2021                 “Butterfly Beat” Furnace - Art on Paper, Falls Village, Ct

2020                  “Gatekeeper” Kajetan Berlin

2018                  “Berlin Drawings”, Museum Haus am Waldsee, Berlin

2017                  “Memory Palace”, Werner Klein Gallery, Cologne

2014                  Marc Straus Gallery, New York

2013                  “Zeichnungen und Bilder”, Werner Klein Gallery, Cologne

2012                  “Recent Works”, Amelie A. Wallace Gallery, SUNY, Old Westbury

                          “Bilder und Skulpturen”, Werner Ruhnke Gallery, Potsdam

2010                  “Landschaft und Linie”, Werner Klein Gallery, Cologne

2009                  Werner Tammen Gallery, Berlin (with Werner Pokorny)

                          Robert Kastowsky Gallery, Vienna

2008                  "Dialog Eduard Micus”, Museum Micus, Ibiza

    Galeria Joanna Kunstmann, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

    Ursula König Gallery, Hanau, Germany

2007                   “Kohle, Buntstift, Säure”, Drawings and Etchings, Museum Pfalzgalerie Kaiserslautern, Germany

    “Intervall und Rhythmus”, Werner Ruhnke Gallery, Potsdam

2006                   “Malerei 2004 bis 2006”, Galerie Renate Kammer, Hamburg

2005                   “Seeing-Thinking-Drawing”, Zeichnungen und Grafik,

                           Schleswig-Holsteinische Landesmuseen Gottorf 

2003                  “Bettina Blohm und Alex Katz”, Galerie Susanne Albrecht, Munich

2002                  “Something about Landscape”, Haus der Kultur, Waldkraiburg

2001                  “Bettina Blohm - Malerei”, Museum Moritzburg, Halle and Museum Pfalzgalerie Kaiserslautern          

                           “Paintings”, Robert Steele Gallery, New York

2000                   “Malerei 1998-2000”, Galerie Susanne Albrecht, Munich

1997                   “Imago”, Galerie Susanne Albrecht, Munich

1996                   “The Road to Delhi”, HERE, New York

 

Group exhibitions (selected):

 

2023                   Salon Zürcher, 7 Women of Spirit, Part 7, Zürcher Gallery, New York

    “Library” curated by Glenn Goldberg, Tappeto Volante Gallery, Brooklyn

2022                   “Vom Zauber der Handbewegung”, Museum Pfalzgalerie

    Kaiserslautern (catalog)

    “Der Linie auf der Spur” Werner Klein Gallery, Cologne

    “Rotating/Axis” Furnace Art on Paper, Falls Village, CT

2021                   Kajetan presents, Kajetan Berlin

                          “zusammensehen” Werner Klein Gallery

                          “Finale-Director’s Cut” Museum Pfalzgalerie Kaiserslautern (cat)

                          “Kein Tag ohne Linie” Museum Ritter, Waldenbuch

2020                  “Gezeichnete Stadt” Berlinische Galerie, Berlin (catalog)

                          “20 Jahre Galerie Werner Klein” Werner Klein Galerie, Cologne

    “…außer vielleicht eine Konstellation, Hommage a Giandomenico

    Tiepolo” oqbo Berlin, curated by Michael Glasmeier

    “Die Vielfalt der Farbe”, Werner Klein Galerie, Cologne

2019                  “Labyrinth der Farben” mpk Kaiserslautern (catalog)

2017                  “The State of New York Painting”, curated by Michael Walls

                          CUNY Kingsborough, New York

                          “Schnittstellen”, Museum Pfalzgalerie Kaiserslautern

2016                  “Band” curated by Stephanie Buhmann, Painting Center, New York

                          “If only Bella Abzug were here”, Marc Straus Gallery, New York

2015                  “Parallel Lines”, Merton Simpson Gallery, New York

                          “Ars Continuum”, Amelie A.Wallace Gallery, SUNY, New York

2014                  “Berlin – New York”,  Galerie oqbo, Berlin

                          “Lass Dich von der Natur anwehen. Landschaftszeichnungen der Romantik und Gegenwart”, Städtische Galerie Bietigheim- Bissingen

                   “Farbe und System”, Galerie Werner Klein, Köln

2013                  “Lass Dich von der Natur anwehen. Landschaftszeichnungen der Romantik und Gegenwart”, Kunsthalle Bremen

     “Line and Form”, Marc Straus Gallery, New York

2012                  “Paper Band”, Jason McCoy Gallery, New York

                          “Bestandsprobe”, Museum Pfalzgalerie Kaiserslautern

2010                  “10 Jahre Galerie Werner Klein”, Köln

    “New Prints” curated by Philip Pearlstein International Print Center, New York

2009                  “Gegenwart der Linie”, Pinakothek der Moderne, München  “Das erste Jahr”, Galerie Robert Kastowsky, Wien

2008                   “Die Welle”,  Kurpfälzisches Museum, Heidelberg

    “New Prints”, curated by James Siena, International Print Center, New York

    “paint it blue”,  Werke aus der ACT art collection Siegfried Loch,  Neues Museum Weserburg,  Bremen

                           “connected”, Altes Museum, Mönchengladbach

2004                   “Colored Pencil”, Kerry Schuss Gallery, New York

2003                   “Accrochage”, Museum Walter im Glaspalast, Augsburg        

                           “Off the Beaten Track-Contemporary Mindscapes”, Mead Art Museum, Amherst College                                                                                         

                           “Reminiscent of Nature”, Farm Art Space, Missoula, Montana

2002                   “Der Berg”, Heidelberger Kunstverein

                           “Made in Tribeca”, mit Melissa Meyer und Jerry Zeniuk,

                           Galerie Susanne Albrecht , München

                           “Quadrate”,  Galerie Susanne Albrecht, München

2001                   “Landschaften eines Jahrhunderts”, Städt. Galerie Aschaffenburg        

2000                   Robert Steele Gallery, New York

1999                   "Serialität: Reihen und Netze”, Städt. Galerie Bremen

1998                   “Neuerwerbungen”, Museum Pfalzgalerie Kaiserslautern

                           “Gallery Group”, Edward Thorp Gallery, New York

1997                   “Gallery Artists”, Edward Thorp Gallery, New York

                            “Some Artists we like”, Robert Steele Gallery, New York

1995                    “Mixed Media Show”, State University of Arizona, Tempe

1993                    “Landschaften, Reisebilder”, Galerie Susanne Albrecht, München

1991                    “Entracte”, Michael Walls Gallery, New York

1990                    “Blau, Farbe der Ferne”, Heidelberger Kunstverein

 

Public collections (selected):

                                   

Berlinische Galerie, Berlin

                                    Busch-Reisinger Museum, Harvard (Sammlg. Wynn Kramarsky)

                                    Museum Ritter, Waldenbuch

Graphische Sammlung, Pinakothek der Moderne, München

Haus der Kultur, Waldkraiburg

Kunsthalle Bremen 

Museum Pfalzgalerie Kaiserslautern

Schleswig-Holsteinische Landesmuseen, Schloss Gottorf

Staatliche Galerie Moritzburg, Halle

Städel Museum, Frankfurt

                                                                       

                                                                       

 

Bibliography (selected):

 

- Bergk, Sabine. “The Unanswered Question”, Kat./Cat. “Memory Palace” 2016

- Boyer-Bell, J. “Gallery Group”, Review 1998

- Buhmann, Stephanie “Bettina Blohm” Berlin Studio Conversations, The Green Box

- Buhlmann, Britta E. “Orte der Stille, Gezeichnete Landschaften von Bettina Blohm”, Ausst. Kat./Exh.cat.  “no ugly mathematics” 2007

- Buhlmann,  Britta E. “Farbe Struktur Weite” Ausst. Kat./Exh.cat. Museum Pfalzgalerie Kaiserslautern 2001

- Büche, Wolfgang. “Von der Elbe in die Catskills”, Ausst. Kat./Exh.cat. Moritzburg Halle 2001

- Clark, Trinkett. “Off the Beaten Track-Contemporary Mindscapes”, Ausst. Kat./Exh.cat. Mead Museum, Amherst  2003

- Cohen, David. ARTCRITICAL PICK “If only Bella Abzug were here”(June) 2016

- Cohen, David.  ARTCRITICAL PICK “Parallel Lines” (Sep) 2015

- Cohen David. “The Dualist”, Ausst. Kat./Exh.cat. Schloss Gottorf 2005

- Gädeke, Thomas. “Verwandlung und Balance”, Ausst. Kat./Exh.cat. Schloss Gottorf 2005

- Goodman, Jonathan. “Bettina Blohm” The Brooklyn Rail (Dec) 2015

- Goodman, Jonathan. “Making new sense of Abstraction: Lisa Abbott-Canfield and Bettina Blohm”, artcritical, (Feb) 2012

- Goodman, Jonathan. “A Brave New World”, Kat./Cat.“Topography” 2009

- Hanten, Sasa. “Dankbar”, Ausst. Kat./Exh.cat. “no ugly mathematics” 2007

- Harkavy, Donna. “Pauses and Oscillations: A Conversation between Donna Harkavy and Bettina Blohm” Kat./Cat. “Memory Palace” 2016

- Heidelbach, Ulrike. “Landscape-Image-Surfaces”, Ausst. Kat./Exh.cat. HERE-art, New York 1996

- Höfchen, Heinz. “Bettina Blohm’s Radierungen”, Ausst. Kat./Exh.cat. “no ugly mathematics” 2007

- Lütgens, Annelie. “Aktives Sehen. Zu den Zeichnungen von Bettina Blohm” Ausst.Kat./Exh.cat. Kunsthalle Bremen 2013

- Mahoney, Rosemary. “Blohm in America”, Ausst. Kat./Exh.cat. “no ugly mathematics” 2007

- Opel,  Angela M. “Bettina Blohm -Landschaften” Ausst. Kat./Exh.cat. Haus der Kultur, Waldkraiburg 2002

- Rhodes, David. “Diagrams intuited: Bettina Blohm at Marc Straus”, artcritical (Nov) 2014

- Sommer, Tim. ”Ins Offene!” Art (Dec) 2013

- Thodos, Diane.”Screen of Emotion, Landscape of the Mind”, in conversation with Bettina Blohm, artcritical (Jul) 2004

- Voigtländer, Elisabeth. Ausst. Kat./Exh.cat. “Blau, Farbe der Ferne” 1990

- Wei, Lilly. “Paint, She Said”, Kat./Cat. “Memory Palace” 2016

- Werthern, Wilhelm, “Bettina Blohm” LE MONDE diplomatique

- Wirth, Heidrun. “Der Blick nach außen” Kölnische Rundschau, 02.17.2022