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LAURA THERESIA KÖHLER
• ABOUT •
My name is Laura Theresia Köhler, a German artist devoted to bring artworks to life that radiate energy. Born in Geneva, Switzerland in 1980, and raised in the South-West of Germany from the age of six, my early years were shaped by the contrasts of European landscapes. Summers spent in a small village near Barcelona and winters on alpine ski slopes created vivid sensory memories that continue to inspire the recurring themes in my paintings.
Creative expression has been a lifelong companion – from early childhood portraits to abstract landscapes as a teenager. My graduation in fashion design at the University of Applied Sciences in Trier laid the foundation for a professional career as a leading designer in the fashion industry, where I refined my artistic eye and attention to form, texture, and detail. Years of business travel to Istanbul also left a deep impression; the city’s energy, its luminous chaos, and human warmth left lasting marks on my palette and spirit.
Color, to me, is a language of emotion. My paintings are visual compositions of joy and tension, imagined realities filled with light, contrast and surreal gestures. Creating a print-like aesthetic and heightened vibrancy, each artwork is built slowly and intuitively. Shapes and tones emerge in the flow, rather than from preplanning. Themes often play with non-reality, such as droplets resisting the warmth of a burning sun, infusing each piece with poetic contradiction.
My paintings are not fast art. They aren’t born of passing moods or seasonal trends. They grow through precision and deep listening, using compositions that allow emotion to resonate. The aim is to create luminous abstract spaces that evoke fulfillment and energy, offering a moment of reflection, connection and joy.
Although trained in fashion, the shift to painting professinally required unlearning old structures and cultivating a new, independent visual language. The Covid-19 pandemic marked a turning point, providing space to explore this transformation and ultimately embrace a full-time painting practice in September 2020. Since then, through direct engagement with collectors and a consistent presence on social media, my work has found its way into private collections and public spaces in 24 countries across four continents – such as Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Spain, Ireland, France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece, the UK, Switzerland, Canada, the USA, Australia, China, Singapore, Japan, Israel, the UAE and Bahrain.
Now in my fifth year as an independent artist, 2025 has become a year of quiet transformation. Personal loss has brought a deeper sense of reflection and a renewed desire to evolve creatively. In a digital world shaped by algorithms and social media performance, maintaining a genuine connection to one’s creative essence can be challenging – yet it remains essential. While I was proud to hold my first solo exhibition this year, I also need to allow space to experiment and to stay connected to the process itself.
My small studio in Bielefeld, Germany, is the heart of my practice – a space for experimentation, reflection and quiet intensity. Each painting is a continuing conversation with collectors and art lovers.
Exhibitions
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03/2025Kyst Gallery Dragør
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06/2023Kugu.space Hamburg
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07/2022Galeria Azur Berlin
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02/2022
Education
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2002 – 2007
Graduation as a Diploma – Designer (UAS) | Fashiondesign & Fine Arts
UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES TRIER -
2004
Stipended Exchange studies as part of the Socrates – Ersamus program
CENTRO SUPERIOR DE DISENO DE MODA DE MADRID -
1999 – 2002
Graduation with a journeyman´s certificate | Artisanal processing techniques & textile technology
VOCATIONAL SCHOOL IN SPEYER -
1990-1999
General University Entrance Qualification | Advanced courses English and Fine Arts
HIGH SCHOOL IN MANNHEIM
Awards
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2006
Recipient of the Apotex GmbH Stipend, awarded in conjunction with the prestigious Apolda European Design Award of 2008.
9TH TEXTILE WORKSHOP IN APOLDA -
2005
Acquisition of manager outfits by Sodexho Oy
LINDSTRÖM AWARD IN FINLAND