Bertram Hasenauer Austrian, 1970

Hasenauer studied from 1992 to 1997 at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna and the University of the Arts in Berlin, followed by a year at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London from 1997 to 1998. This academic background shapes his reductionist approach and deepens his engagement with the human figure. His paintings often originate from photographs found in fashion magazines, which he deconstructs and reconstructs to free them from their original context. The resulting images abstract the essence of human existence to a universal level. 

His works have been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions, including at the Kunsthalle Memmingen (2023), the Museum of Modern Art Salzburg (2010), and most recently at CHOI&CHOI Gallery in Seoul with the exhibition "Sense of Self" (2024). This latest exhibition explores the interplay between nostalgia and the search for identity. New works that mimic the appearance of folded paper add further dimensions and reflect the layers of memory. 

Hasenauer's figures are characterized by an androgynous, timeless aesthetic. They captivate viewers with their focused poses and attention to details such as shoulders, necks, or eyes. Often, the figures emerge from monochromatic backgrounds, which, through subtle layers of color, achieve a striking luminosity. This technique renders the paintings abstract, despite their figurative nature. 

In addition to human figures, Hasenauer also delves into landscapes, plants, and occasionally still lifes. His works are part of prominent collections, including the Berlinische Galerie, the Museum of Modern Art Salzburg, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. In 2008, he was awarded the Georg Eisler Prize for Painting.

He lives and works in Berlin. 

 Copyright the artist. Photo UniCredit Bank Austria (Wolfgang Thaler)