Photo: erwino.com
About Hans Kotter
Hans Kotter (born 1966 in Mühldorf am Inn) is a leading contemporary artist based in Berlin, specializing in light, color, and space. His artistic practice investigates the physical and artistic essence of light through minimalist light sculptures and kinetic installations.
Exhibitions and Collections
Kotter studied at the Art Students League in New York and the MediaDesign Academy in Munich. His significant contribution to the field was recognized with the prestigious German Light Art Award (Deutscher Lichtkunstpreis) in 2024. His works are exhibited in major museums and galleries worldwide.
biography
1966
born in Mühldorf am Inn, Germany
1993 – 94
Art Students League, New York studied with Bruce Dorfman und William Scharf
2001 – 03
MediaDesign Akademie Munich, Germany
2004
Bavarian Culture Award (E-ON), Germany
2011
Artist in Residence, Art Radionica Lazareti, Dubrovnik, Croatia
2007 – 13
Lecturer at State Academy of Art and Design Stuttgart,
Germany lives and works in Berlin
2014
Nominated for the Light Award, Centre for International Light Art Unna, Germany
2024
German Light Art Award (Deutsche Lichtkunstpreis)
lives and works in Berlin
Selected Group Exhibition
2023
Borusan Contemporary, Istanbul, Turkey, hyper Digital Forces
Ruskin Gallery, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK, New Accelerator
Bluerider Art, Shanghai, China, Wild Grass
Schlieder Contemporary Frankfurt, Germany New Perspectives
Gallery Michaela Stock, Vienna, We Are Back & Scratching on the Surface
Bluerider Art, Taipei, Taiwan, Wild Grass
2022
Borusan Contemporary, Istanbul, Turkey, Hybrid Spaces
Kunsthalle Messmer (Foundadtion) Riegel, Germany, Light Art
Gallery Michaela Stock, Vienna, Whatever U Do – I Love It
Kunstraum Villa Friede, Bonn, Germany, Chromatic Perspective
Bluerider Art, Taipei, Taiwan, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Villa Datris, L´Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, France, Cinetique! Sculpture in Motion
Schlieder Contemporary Frankfurt, Germany Lichtblick
2021
Benjamin Eck Projects, Munich, Germany
Bluerider Art, Taipei, Taiwan, Mental Space
Kunstmuseum Celle, 4 + 20 Light Hours
Lakeville X Bluerider Art, Shanghai, China
Borusan Contemporary, Istanbul, Turkey, Water Reverie II
Projektraum Deutscher Künstlerbund, Berlin, Still Alive
Villa Datris, L´Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, France, Sculpture en fête!
Gallery Hartwich, Sellin, Germany, Waterworld
Gallery Bernd A. Lausberg, Düsseldorf, Germany, PURE
Kunststation Kleinsassen, Kleinsassen, !Licht
Bluerider Art, Shanghai, China, The New Lux
2020
Borusan Contemporary, Istanbul, Turkey, Water Reverie
Bluerider ART, Taipei, Taiwan, Switch ON
JD Malat Gallery, London, Shifting space
International Light Art Project, Cologne, Germany, Collumina II
Valletta Contemporary, Malta, up to now
2019
Stephen Lawrence Gallery & Saturationpoint, London, Possible Architectures
Valletta Contemporary, Malta, after minimalism
Projektraum Deutscher Künstlerbund, Berlin, Fleeting Sketches
2018
MPV Gallery, Den Bosch, Netherlands, infinity!
Kunstmuseum Celle, Germany, light box
International Light Art Project Tunis, Interference
2017
Kunsthalle Messmer (Foundadtion) Riegel, Germany
De Buck Gallery, New York, Colored light
Kunstmuseum Celle, Signal
Kinetica Museum, London, 10th Anniversary Exhibition
2016
Gallery Michaela Stock, Vienna, Luminous Persception
Viltin Gallery, Budapest, X Play
Musuem Ritter, Waldenbuch, Germany, Spatial Miracles
Pop Austin, Austin, Texas, Pop International Art Show
Borusan Contemporary, Istanbul, Deck Voyage
Villa Datris, L ́Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Sculpture En Partage
Gallery Heitsch Munich, Germany, Master of light
2015
Pop Austin, Austin, Texas, Illumination
Museum Ritter, Waldenbuch, Germany, Lunapark 2000
Gallery Michaela Stock, Vienna, Appropriation Interpiktoriaität
2014
Budapest Galerie, Budapest, Contemporaries
Gallery Nery Marino, Paris, Coleur et Transparence
Gallery Impakto, Lima, Peru, Geomertiks
Insanitus Festival, Vilnius, Lithuania
Kunstmuseum Celle, Germany, part 2 – light art in Germany in the 21 century
Shoreditch Town Hall, ARTinTRA, London, out of our heads
Gallery Impakto, Lima, Peru, Cielo y Tierra
Borusan Contemporary, Istanbul, Common Ground: Earth
Bestregarts, Frankfurt, Luminale
2013
Museum Ritter, Waldenbuch, Germany, Good Vibrations
Kunstmuseum Celle, Germany, part 1 – light art in Germany in the 21 century
Gesellschaft für Kunst und Gestaltung, Bonn, Ceci n’est pas une lampe..
Gallery Impakto, Lima, Peru, City lights
De Buck Gallery, New York
Patrick Heide Contemporary Art, London, Kotter, Luther, Mack
Gallery Nery Marino, Paris, bright light
2012
Borusan Contemporary, Istanbul, Turkey, segment #3
Villa Datris, L´Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Frankreich, Mouvement et Lumiere
Kepes Institut, Budapest, Quadratic Equations
Bestregarts, Frankfurt/Main, Luminale Frankfurt – shine shine shine
Lausberg Contemporary, Toronto
De Buck Gallery, New York
Gallery Lisi Hämmerle, Bregenz, effects in relation
2011
Gallery Michaela Stock, Vienna, …reflection reflected
Bestregarts, Frankfurt, new works 2011
Gallery Michaela Stock, Vienna, story for reflection
De Buck Gallery, New York
Patrick Heide Contemporary Art, London
Art Radionica Lazareti – Gallery Otok, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Lausberg Contemporary, Toronto, click clique
Borusan Contemporary, Istanbul, Turkey, segment #1
Villa Datris, L´Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Sculptures Plurielles
Lausberg Contemporary, Düsseldorf, konkrete Abstraktion
MSU Museum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb, Croatia, sensitive extra
2010
Lausberg Contemporary, Toronto, beyond painting
2009
Lausberg Contemporary, Toronto, best of Lausberg contemporary
ArtMbassy Berlin, Trilogie: Berlin – London – Rom
2008
Stadtgalerie Klagenfurt, best before…
bkhf Gallery Miami, German Photography Today
Kunst08+ Stuttgart, play it, Curator Werner Meyer (Kunsthalle Göppingen)
Targetti light art collection
2007
Gallery Benden & Klimczak, Cologne preview 2008
ArtMbassy, Berlin, Germany, obsession with technics
Istituto Italiano di Cultura, suitcase, Cologne
Kinetica Museum, London, in the flux (C)
Kunstverein Aschaffenburg, Germany, best before…
2006
Kinetica Museum, London, life forms
Rosenbaum Contemporary, Boca Raton, Florida, fire and ice
Internationales Forum Berlin, Magie des Lichtes (magic of light)
2005
Gallery Kashya Hildebrand, Geneva, Switzerland, reflections
Gallery Bernd Lausberg, Düsseldorf, Germany, Rot als Farbe (red as colour)
Gallery Kashya Hildebrand, New York, spectrum
Berlinerkunst Project, NY Arts Magazine, Berlin, Look!
Gallery Kashya Hildebrand, Zurich, solaris
2003
Backfabrik, Berlin, Germany, Lichtung II (galde II)
Patrick Heide Contemporary Art, London
BerlinerKunstprojekt Annex, Berlin, Germany, illuminationen
2001
Oberbayerische Kulturtage Altötting, Germany, Kraft und Magie (power and magic)
2000
Kulturmodell Passau, Germany
Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany, Große Kunstausstellung
Städtische Galerie im Park, Viersen, Germany
1999
Kultur Forum Oberalteich, Germany, I love you
Museum of Modern Art, New York, online exhibition the museum as muse: artist reflect
Keio University, Tokyo, Japan, 01
exhibition on tour taking pictures, snapshots
-Siemens AG, Munich, Germany
– Städtische Galerie Regensburg, taking pictures, snapshot, Germany
-Monique Goldstrom Gallery, New York
1998
Abraham Lubelski Gallery, New York, country without borders
Neue Galerie Oberhausmuseum, Passau, Germany
1997
Old Tax Office, Rosenheim, Germany, keine Erinnerung (no memory)
exhibition on tour, the power of words and signs
– Casa Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
– Index Gallery, Osaka, Japan
– Sala Franco, Triest, Italy
– Abraham Lubelski Gallery, New York
Kultur Modell Passau, metamorphosia
Biennale New York, NY Arts Magazine
1996
Haus der Kultur, Waldkraiburg, Germany
450 Broadway Gallery, New York, sonic identity
1995
Gallery Hofmeisterhaus, Massing/Rottal, Germany
1994
Stadtmuseum Waldkraiburg, Germany, annual art exhibition
Dariusz Gubala Gallery, New York, cyber culture
Castle-Schloßhof, Austria
1993
Dariusz Gubala Gallery, New York, vertigo art
Madelyn Jordon Gallery, New York
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2023
Osthaus Museum, Hagen, Germany, Transformation
2022
JD Malat Gallery, London, Transformation
2021
Bluerider ART, Taipei, Taiwan, Beyond Light
2020
De Buck Gallery, New York, MAKK: Selections
MAKK Museum, Cologne, Germany, Light Colour Space
2019
Gallery Bernd Lausberg, Düsseldorf, Germany, Reflections
2018
Stern-Wywiol Galerie, More Light!
Galerie Michaela Stock, Vienna, luminous infinity
2017
Patrick Heide Contemporary Art, London
2016
Gallery Bernd Lausberg, Düsseldorf, Germany
Saumuelis Baumgarte Gallery, Bielefeld, Germany, beyond light
2015
Bildraum 01, Vienna, beyond light
Kunstverein Lippe, Detmold, Germany, Lichtkunst
2014
De Buck Gallery, New York, …..interruption
Gallery Nery Marino, Paris, light flow
2013
Gallery Michaela Stock, Vienna, superposition
European Hous of Art Upper Bavaria – Schafhof, Germany, more light
Export Kubus, Vienna, replaced – light flow
SUART – Syracuse University Art Gallery, New York
Osthaus Museum, Hagen, Germany, light flow
2012
Gallery Klaus Benden, Cologne, home sweet home
Gallery Nery Marino, Paris, in the flux
2011
De Buck Gallery, New York, light sensitive
Patrick Heide Contemporary Art, London, light flow
Viltin Gallery, Budapest, Hungary, deflection (with Erdélyi Gábor)
Studio d’Arte Contemporanea Pino Casagrande, Rom, deflection
2010
Gallery Grazia Blumberg, Recklinghausen, Dialog (with A. Zinsmeister)
2009
Gallery Michaela Stock, Vienna, replaced
Patrick Heide Contemporary Art, London, replaced
2008
Gallery Benden & Klimczak, Cologne, the very best…!
Shunt London, with Kinetica Museum London, balance
Gallery Bernd Lausberg, Toronto, colour rush
2007
Patrick Heide Contemporary Art, London colour rush and blue line
2006
Luminale Frankfurt, with Patrick Heide Contemporary Art, London + BestregArts, Frankfurt Gallery Bernd Lausberg, Düsseldorf, light and colour
2005
Berlinische Galerie with Spectral, chromatic impulse
2004
Raum für Kunst, Kunstverein Ravensburg, Germany, balance
Aedes Berlin, Germany, illuminations
Patrick Heide Contemporary Art, London, macro landscape
2003
Patrick Heide Contemporary Art, London, Lichtecht (lightfast)
2002
Bezirks Galerie, Bezirk Oberbayern, Munich, Germany, light and colour
Stadtmuseum Neuötting, Germany, beauty in plastic
2001
Pasinger Fabrik, Munich, Germany, blue line
2000
Gallery Hofmeisterhaus, Massing/Rottal, Germany, landscape in plastic
1999
Gallery Benden & Klimczak, Cologne, Germany, Stillleben (still life)
1998
Haus der Kultur, Waldkraiburg, Germany, Spurensicherung
Castle-Klebing, Germany, death cult in the chapel
1997
Modern Theatre Munich, Germany, diary with sound-collage
Gallery Notwehr, Munich, Germany
1996
ARTgerecht, Hamburg, Germany, memory
1994
Radiocenter of Bratislava, Slovakia, body language
1993
Galerie & Atelier, Vienna, talk to me
1992
Stadtmuseum Waldkraiburg, Germany
Chuck Levitan Gallery, New York, daydreams
Collections
MAKK Museum, Cologne, Germany
Targetti Light Art Collection, Italy
Collection of the German Federal Parliament, Germany
Museum Ritter, Germany
Osthaus Museum, Germany
Kunstmuseum Celle, Germany
Villa Datris, Fonds pour la Sculpture Contemporaine, France
Borusan Art Collection, Turkey
Collection Fidelity Investment, UK & USA
Collection DEKA Bank, Germany
Collection Candy & Candy, UK
Collection Ron Dennis, UK
Kinetica Museum, UK
Collection Jean et Colette Cherqui, France
Collection Ichikowitz, South Africa
Collection Aareal Bank, Germany
Collection Jan des Bouvrie, Netherlands
Topping Rose House’s Collection, Bridghampton, New York
Collection Gerald and Jody Lippes, Naples, FL, USA
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
AT&T Collection, Dallas, Texas
Collection Light Sound Movement, Rolf B. Heer, Germany
COLLECTION Gerard L. Cafesjian, USA/Armenia
HAMILTON PRINCESS COLLECTION, BERMUDA, USA
Public Art
2010
Warburg Pincus, Frankfurt, Germany
2009
Aareal Bank, Hamburg, Germany
2007
Booz Allen Hamilton GmbH, Berlin, Germany
Hotel Maximilian, Nürnberg, Germany
School in Bavaria, Germany
2005
Immobilien Investment Frankfurt, Skyper, Frankfurt, Germany
Derag AG, Hotel Kanzler, Bonn, Germany
2004
E-ON Bayern Regensburg, administration building, Regensburg, Germany
Neuga Bauträge, object at Burghauser-Tor, Neuötting, Germany
2003
DEKA Immobilien Investment Frankfurt, Leomax, Munich, Germany
Staatliches Hochbauamt Rosenheim, land surveying office, Germany
1999
Passauer Neue Presse, media center, Passau, Germany
1998
Stadt Burghausen, community center, Burghausen, Germany
Passauer Neue Presse, editorial office, Passau, Germany
1997
Wochenblatt Burghausen, editorial office, Burghausen, Germany
Art Fairs
TEFAF Maastricht, Art Cologne, Viennafair, Arco Madrid, Arte Fiera Bologna, Design Miami, Design Miami/Basel, Art Forum Berlin, Collect London, Art Moscow, Art Toronto, Art Amsterdam, PAN Amsterdam, Art Fair Köln, Art Miami, Art Palm Beach, Kunst Zurich, Art Frankfurt, Scope London, Scope New York, MiArt Milan, Kinetica Art Fair London, Kunst Köln, Pulse NY, Pulse Miami, Art Karlsruhe, P.A.D London, P.A.D. Paris, P.A.D. New York, Art Bodensee, LA Art Show, Object Rotterdam, Art Chicago, Parc Lima, Art Wynwood, Art Dubai u.a., TEFAF New York