MICHAEL MÜLLER
b. 1970, GermanyMichael Müller’s (b.1970, Ingelheim am Rhein. Lives and works in Berlin) works neither lend themselves to a common conceptual denominator nor order themselves into an easily identifiable formal language. Instead, exhibitions are marked by variety, heterogeneity, and ambiguity. ‘Languages’ of art are presented side-by-side and with equal emphasis: the result of a process of testing, combining, and varying. An example of Müller’s preoccupation with questions of authorship is the title of his first institutional solo exhibition, ‘Wer Spricht?’ (‘Who is Speaking?’) at the KW Institute for Contemporary Art in Berlin in 2015-2016.
Best known for his drawings and written work, Müller is constantly expanding his means of expression, which now incorporate sculpture, painting, installation and performance. Translation is a recurring theme in Müller’s practice. This can sometimes literally mean the translation of one language into another – as, for example, in his invention of the language K4 – but translation can also be interpreted as transference from one level of reality to another.
Müller studied Sculpture and Art, Kunstakademie Düsseldorf with Magdalena Jetelova. He was Professor at the Berlin University of the Arts, 2015-18, and is one of the founders of the Kunstsaele Berlin, which opened in 2010.
His work has been exhibited in many solo and group shows, internationally, including: Neues Museum, Berlin (2025); Museum im Kulturspeicher, Würzburg (2022-23); Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main (2022-2023); Sammlung Wemhöner, Berlin(2021); Städtische Galerie Wolfsburg, Wolfsburg (2019-2021); Kunstaele Berlin, Berlin (2019); Art Centre Pasquart, Biel (2018); Brandenburgischer Kunstverein, Potsdam (2017); Drawing Room, London (2017); Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden (2016-2017); KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin (2015).
His work forms part of many public collections, including CGAC, Santiago de Compostela; Kunstmuseum Bonn, Bonn; MOCA, Los Angeles; Museum für Kommunikation, Berlin; Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main.
Courtesy Jhaveri Contemporary, Mumbai.
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