Berlin-born Conny Maier's large-format paintings depicting doll-like figures set amid nature seek to humorously tackle socio-cultural topics while questioning our own behaviours.
Read MoreMaier's intensely coloured large-scale paintings are populated with crudely rendered doll-like figures. Set within nature, Maier's canvases seek to negotiate the ambivalent relationship between humans and the environment. While nature has inherently served as a safe haven for humankind, Maier's work challenges our utopian idea of a peaceful coexistence, highlighting the savagery and mystery of these untouched plains.
The doll-like characters featured in Maier's works are often reduced to silhouettes. In lieu of defining features such as age or gender, her figures can be identified by their large circular red lips framing a black hole.
Maier gathers source material for her paintings while travelling the world. First recording preliminary sketches and transcribing her memories in a notebook, she then transposes these ideas onto her large-scale canvases, as introduced in Ocula Advisory.
Over the last couple of years, König Galerie has showcased Maier's work at gallery presentations and fairs. In 2020, the artist was included in the gallery's Art Cologne presentation and, in 2021, the gallery hosted her first solo exhibition in Asia at their newly opened Seoul space.
In 2020, Maier received the Deutsche Bank's coveted 'Artist of the Year' Award, making her the first German artist to receive the recognition.
Maier's solo exhibitions include Grenzgänge 2, König Galerie, Seoul (2021); Grenzgänge, Ruttkowski;68, Cologne (2021); Die Zähmung, Kunstverein Heppenheim (2020); Domestic, König Galerie, Berlin (2020); Am Rothenbaum, Ruttkowski;68, Paris (2018); A.Tennis, Parallel Vienna, Vienna (2017); Alles very good./- Nothing matters, ung5, Cologne (2017); COKE FIRST PT.II, BOLD Room, Los Angeles (2016); COKE FIRST, Beinghunted./net.work, Berlin (2015); and Amerikanische Situation & Zigaretten, Volume Galerie, Berlin (2014), among others.
Maier's group exhibitions include Artists of the Year 2021 der Deutschen Bank, Palais Populaire, Berlin (2021); Mixed Pickles 9, Ruttkowski;68, Munich (2021); You can do better – Bad Painting, Elektrohalle Rhomberg, Salzburg (2020); Atlantis 3000 1, Atelier Concorde, Lisbon (2019); Grand Opening, Ruttkowski;68, Paris (2018); and HYPER HYPER, Michael Reid Galerie, Berlin (2017), among others.
Maier's website can be found here, and her Instagram can be found here.
Annabel Downes | Ocula | 2022
