Between Presence and Absence: The Evolving Layers of Barbara Tunkowitsch’s Paintings
Barbara Tunkowitsch’s paintings are more than visuals—they’re invitations to pause and reflect.
Transformation feels just around the corner, yet it’s never fully realized.
Transformation seems imminent, but it is never fully realized—an exploration of time suspended.” – On Soft Shelters, Shimmering Cocoons
Tunkowitsch’s work blurs the line between the tangible and the fleeting.
Everyday objects and textures take on new life, becoming symbols of introspection and discovery.
Her canvases act as bridges between what is seen and what lies just out of reach, transforming each painting into a world in between.
The Journey of an Artist
Barbara Tunkowitsch, based in Vienna, studied painting and animation at the
University of Applied Arts in Vienna and spent an exchange semester at the
Glasgow School of Art.
During her studies, she was particularly inspired by artists like Kerry-James Marshall, Leonora Carrington and Suzan Pitt, which shaped her layered approach to materiality and meaning.
Barbara Tunkowitsch: Arist Studio impressions by (C) Eva Paijens and (C) Simon Goritschnig
Upcoming exhibitions at Galerie Hollerei (March 2025) and Kunstfabrik Groß Siegharts (June 2025) promise to further her dialogue on transformation and stasis.
A Closer Look: Soft Shelters, Shimmering Cocoons
In her latest series, Soft Shelters, Shimmering Cocoons, Tunkowitsch explores themes of growth and vulnerability. These cocoon-like forms hover between protection and exposure, stillness and motion.
In Cloud Sandals (2024), soft gradients and organic shapes create an ethereal space—like a dream caught between motion and stillness.
Her technique—layering translucent glazes over dense textures—creates depth and tension.
Barbara Tunkowitsch: (left) Air born 32x24cm 2024 oil on canvas | (right) Cloud sandals 35x30cm Oil on canvas 2024 | Image Courtesy of the Artist
The result is paintings that seem to breathe, their interplay of light and shadow drawing viewers into moments of suspended transformation.
The Power of Absence
A recurring theme in Tunkowitsch’s work is the tension between presence and absence.
In Marble, Drapes, and Dust (III)(2024), the folds of fabric shimmer under subtle lighting, their weightlessness contrasting with the gravity of the unseen.
Barbara Tunkowitsch: Marble, drapes and dust (I) 32x24cm 2024 oil on canvas-photography (C) Simon Goritschnig (right) Marble, drapes and dust (III) 32x24cm 2024_oil on canvas-photography (C) Simon Goritschnig
These deliberate absences amplify a sense of mystery, inviting introspection and interpretation.
Her work captures fleeting moments, like cinematic stills from a story that begins before the viewer arrives and continues after they leave.
It’s this incompleteness that resonates deeply, allowing each viewer to find their own meaning.
Images, that unfold slowly
Tunkowitsch’s art speaks to the universal experience of change and uncertainty.
In a world that often feels rushed and transient, her works remind us to pause and embrace the beauty of impermanence.
By transforming everyday objects into symbols of reflection, she creates art that feels deeply personal yet universally relatable.
Barbara Tunkowitsch’s paintings are windows into the human experience.
By immersing us in the delicate balance of transformation and stasis, she invites us to linger in the beauty of the unknown.
Explore and follow her journey on Instagram.
Barbara Tunkwitsch
Barbara Tunkowitsch - official Website
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