A brush with… Katharina Grosse—podcast
Katharina Grosse talks to Ben Luke about her influences—from writers to musicians, and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped her life and work
In this podcast interview with The Art Newspaper's regular series, host Ben Luke delves deep into the artistic world with Katharina Grosse. Born in Freiberg im Breisgau, Germany, in 1961, Grosse views painting as an expansive medium that can be explored on canvases, gallery walls, textile hangings, sculptures, natural forms, public spaces, and even the landscape itself.
Utilizing an industrial spray gun, she creates dense, vibrant swaths of color that form dynamic relationships and envelop viewers. Her work reflects and articulates the world, inviting an active response from the viewer, both physically and visually.
Grosse discusses the immediate feedback she receives from surfaces and environments, describing herself as "at home in flow" when working across multiple pieces. She also explores the use of colors as clusters, always in relation to one another. Throughout the interview, Grosse reflects on various influences, including choreographer Pina Bausch, her residency at Edvard Munch’s former studio at Ekely in Norway, the physicality of paint by Lovis Corinth, the "razor-sharp sentences" of writer Annie Ernaux, and the fascination with Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.
She also shares insights into her studio life and answers the usual questions, including the ultimate query: what is art for?
Written by urgent.news from The Art Newspaper's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
