I’m a German-born photographer and multidisciplinary artist based in New York City. Photography is my point of departure for understanding the world. I’m drawn to moments of tenderness, everyday rituals, and acts of self-expression within an ever-shifting cultural landscape. Through my process, I seek to dissolve the boundaries between subject and observer, often becoming an active participant in the scene. In an increasingly divided world, my work searches for what unites rather than what separates us, placing humanity, pleasure and joy at the center while embracing idiosyncrasy and imperfection.
In a visual dance between raw honesty and painterly poetry, I work across photography, moving image, collage, and mixed media. Digital and analog imagers, writing, found objects, archival pieces, drawings, paintings, and motion sequences become cinematic montages.
Alongside my artistic practice, I work as a creative director in fashion, advertising, and entertainment, where the dialogue between commissioned and personal work continues to shape my visual language.
My work has been featured in Items: Is Fashion Modern? at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, and published in Faces Magazine, ZEIT, WELT, and other international publications. As a visiting professor, I’ve taught at the School of Visual Arts in New York and Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. For select prints, I’m represented by White Label Project in Berlin. I’m a member of Photolab NYC. Running is my meditation, and I’ve never had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
WHAT’S THE FIRST PIECE OF ART YOU’VE MADE?
My sister and I had a big table in our room and there were always paint and wax markers around. We just sat on the table, drew and painted on paper, ourselves or the window, which was probably my first piece. My mom encouraged us to paint the window, btw.
WHEN DID YOU KNOW, PHOTOGRAPHY WAS YOUR field?
When I first held a camera in my hand and imagined the possibilities. It made me so happy! When I was about 10, I had a chance to get into a black & white darkroom and observe how prints were made. It was pure magic when the image became visible!
DO YOU REMEMBER seeing your FIRST SHOW?
It was either Erwin Blumenfeld or Richard Avedon. In grade 8 and 9, I skipped school sometimes and went to the museum instead. I felt that I got a better education there. On one of those trips I saw their work for the first time and it blew me away. Turns out, taking matters into my own hands wasn't such a bad idea after all…
WHEN YOU BEGIN NEW WORK, WHERE DO YOU START?
It usually starts with a thought that keeps coming back. At the same time, I go out, take pictures or draw in my sketchbook. Sometimes, my journal points me into the direction as well. As the project takes shape, I simultaneously work on other ideas as well as a palette cleanser. And then there’s a moment when it explodes and I can’r stop.
HOW DO YOU KNOW, A PROJECT IS DONE?
I know, when I’m done when I see the complete vision as I had it in my mind in front of me. I often put a project to the side and let it simmer for a while. Right now, I’m finishing a project that I photographed between 2018-2019.
WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION?
The city of New York is an endless source of inspiration. Just walking down the street can bring five new ideas. Sometimes, it’s more of a matter of editing, really. My boyfriend is brilliant, he inspires and challenges me every day. We discuss ideas and creative projects and his insights influence my work. He took this picture. I also follow a similar sentiment as John Berger describes in his book ‘Ways of Seeing’ that seeing is not passive, it is intentional and we need to be present to see.
