Petra Schott’s journey into the world of art is as profound and layered as her paintings. A German abstract painter based in Frankfurt, Schott transforms emotions, memories, and visions into works of art that transcend the boundaries of language. Her paintings are not merely visual pieces but an invitation to introspection and connection. As Schott puts it, “My art opens the space before words and thus creates a new freedom of immediate recognition and experience.”
Schott’s artistic process is deeply rooted in intuition. Her works blend lyrical abstraction with subtle figurative elements, drawing from her subconscious and guided by an innate connection to her environment. “The interplay of colors, textures, and shapes leads me to self-discovery and introspection, connecting me to my true nature,” she shares. Often, she scribbles poignant thoughts and associations directly onto her paintings, using her left hand to allow intuition to guide her completely.
The richness of her medium—oil—plays a vital role in her work. “Oil’s profound natural colors and softness immerse my studio and clothes in a delightful creative chaos by the end of the process,” she notes. This tactile connection with her materials reflects her belief in the power of imperfection and spontaneity over rationality and academic norms.
Schott’s paintings often explore themes of nostalgia, human relationships, and nature’s intangible beauty. Through series like “Magical Walk,” “Venus,” and “Longing for Paradise,” she captures the emotional resonance of her memories and visions. The titles of her works, such as “When Sappho Meets Bonnard” or “Listening to Beethoven While Ironing,” evoke layers of poetry, music, and life’s overlooked details.
Art curator Nell Cardozo aptly captures the essence of Schott’s work: “There is a generous intimacy in Schott’s use of color that coaxes out a subtle interplay between comfort and longing. Looking into them is like looking into a dream that belongs to some common consciousness.”
Schott’s path to becoming a full-time artist is as unique as her style. After completing a law degree and working as a judge, she pursued a Fine Arts degree at the Art Academy in Kassel. Balancing her legal career with painting for decades, she eventually left the legal profession in 2014 to dedicate herself fully to her art. This duality of structure and creativity informs her approach, allowing her to channel life’s complexities into her work.
Schott’s art has gained significant acclaim, both nationally and internationally. She won the Jackson’s Painting Prize for Non-Representational Art in 2023 and has been featured in prominent publications like Create Magazine and Art Seen. Her works are housed in private collections and exhibited in galleries such as the Tappan Collective (Los Angeles), Hancock Gallery (Newcastle), and Mirena Art Gallery (France).
Her recent solo exhibitions include:
- “Colour Energy” at Gallus Theater, Frankfurt (2024)
- “Venus on Holidays” at Studio Novo Artspace, Cologne (2023)
- “Illuminating Reality” at Hancock Gallery, Newcastle (2023)
Her group exhibitions have taken her work to prestigious venues like the Biennale di Venezia, Archive Art Museum in Beijing, and The Other Art Fair in Brooklyn.
Ultimately, Schott’s artistic vision transcends visual aesthetics. Her work offers viewers a space for solace, introspection, and a new way of perceiving themselves. As she eloquently states, “Art does not save us from chaos but from order.” Through her intuitive process and emotive imagery, Petra Schott invites us to step into a world where colors speak and emotions take form—a world that is as much about discovery as it is about connection.
The artist is currently showcasing her solo exhibition, The Way It Is, at Gallery Konsum163 in Munich. For more about Petra Schott and her upcoming exhibitions, visit her website or follow her gallery representation through Tappan Collective, Globe Fine Art Gallery, Pamela Walsh Gallery, and more.
Photo credits: All images are from the artist’s archive.
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