Eva Schlegel *1960 in Tyrol, Austria. Lives and works in Vienna.

Schlegel is one of Austria’s most prominent contemporary artists known for her multidisciplinary approach, encompassing photography, installation, sculpture, and mixed media. She studied at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna under notable professors like Oswald Oberhuber and Joseph Beuys, where she later became a professor herself. In 1995, Schlegel gained international recognition for her collaboration with Coop Himmelblau on the design of the Austrian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Schlegel’s works often explore themes of identity, perception, and the relationship between space and memory. She frequently incorporates found objects, textiles, and everyday materials into her art, creating evocative and thought-provoking installations that blur the boundaries between the physical and the conceptual. Blur is a central theme in Schlegel’s work and remind of historical techniques like “sfumato.” She skillfully employs color, often in black and white, to create delicate nuances and evoke a sense of mystery. Through deliberate obscuration, she challenges conventional notions of photographic clarity, focusing instead on the plastic-architectural effect of her subjects. Schlegel’s art transports viewers to unfamiliar visual landscapes, where ethereal figures emerge from blurred memory fragments. These works deliberately diverge from the media’s conventional depiction of human forms, presenting a novel outlook on modern society. Throughout her career, Schlegel has exhibited extensively both nationally and internationally, gaining recognition for her innovative and experimental artistic practice. Her works can be found in numerous public and private collections worldwide, solidifying her status as a leading figure in contemporary art.