German painter Beate Axmann succeeds in Chicago, Beijing

Iris May: An atmosphere of new beginnings prevails in the artist’s studio of Beate Axmann.

The suitcases and boxes are still unpacked. In June the 56-year-old packs them again to travel to an Art Symposium in the Kosovo in the South East of Europe. End of July she co-organizes the Art Symposium “Culture Bridge” near Hannover (Germany). The eyes of the slim painter behind the big glasses tell about her lust for life. Roots and wings, but also the peaceful co-existence of different cultures are the central motives of her art. She sees herself in the spirit of expressionist painters like Basquiat and Schiele. A shift to the right in the USA drives her to paint a series called ‘Sichtverrückt’ that illustrates extreme views. The message is understood. A visitor to an exhibition in the US writes in the guest book: ‘Beautiful, powerful, peaceful!’ 

A very female artist’s way
When she was a child, Beate Axmann didn’t want anything else, except painting. ‘I’ve always been a dreamer and adventurer’, says the artist who was born in a small village in the Black forest in Southern Germany. The materials in the painting-company of her grand-parents form a paradise for her creativity. As an Art Academy is financially out of reach for the family, Beate receives an education as a childcare specialist. For some years she encourages children to paint and be creative. 1985 she falls in love with the half-Italian Karl Roberto. When they meet, Beate tells him, that she is about to make a leap to a 9-month-journey to South America. Karl Roberto is waiting impatiently, while Beate explores South America with a rucksack, a tent and a friend. The love endures. Shortly afterwards Beate Axmanns pictures win her a place at an Art Academy. But Karl Roberto is afraid to lose his love to the art world. So she abandons the chance. Instead of studying Beate and Karl Roberto marry in a huge ceremony with both families. 1987, 1989 und 1999 she gives birth to the children Mario, Raissa und Vera-Lou.

A tough stroke of fate
The year 2003 brings a lot of sorrow. Two days after her father dies from cancer, her 15-year old son is struck by a train. After that Beate Axmann commits herself 100 % to painting. For one year she paints mainly angels. In the background you can recognize train tracks. The motive is not new to her. The first exhibition 2004 is a big success. „Subconsciously I have processed the grief“, she says. Although the feedback is always positive, many galleries and Artists Communities reject Beate Axmann because she has no Academy background. “I didn’t have the one big breakthrough. But dedication and commitment brought me forwards”, she remembers. Soon she is known for her expressionistic motives of the Black Forest in her home region and does solo shows.



Artist in Residence in Chicago
A workshop of the international renown Zhou-Brothers in Austria leads to a collaboration: 2013, 2014 and 2015 becomes „Artist in Residence’ in Chicago. At night she sleeps in a ZEN-garden appartment of the Zhou-brothers in Chicagos Bridgeport area. During the days for the first time in her life she paints huge formats at the Zhou B Art Center in Chicago. Every night she hears shootings in the “bad neighbourhood” and learns that Gang Crimes claim young lives almost daily.  She creates the painting „The Shot“, that will be exhibited in Chicago and New Orleans.

More and more American buyers are attracted by her paintings. Some of them have German roots. Chicago attracted many German immigrants in the 1900s.  Maybe this is one reason that in the Dank-Haus, Chicagos German-American Culture Center, Axmann is celebrated. Germanys consul general, Herbert Quelle praises Axmanns “spirit of liberty” that enables peaceful co-existence of different cultures.

In May 2019, Beate Axmanns works will be exhibited at the MoCA-Museum of Contemporary Art in Chinas Capital Beijing. Of course the paintings have to pass the Chinese censors. But fortunately, they are quite abstract.

Iris May is a writer & Editor (Lahr, Freiburg, Germany).


risingbd/Dhaka/March 27, 2019/Nasim