Emilia Houzer

In my artistic practice, I am interested in how the seemingly invisible can become visible. In my paintings, I attempt to capture the subtle nuances, so that a new space for the viewer to encounter themselves becomes possible. 

Since 2022, I have been studying for a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education and Therapy at Alanus University in Bonn/Alfter. My studies have shown me that art can always facilitate a space for encounter: between the artwork and the viewer, the artist and the artwork, and the artwork and its environment. 

I have

been exploring this field since autumn 2023 using natural watercolours. This is how I began painting on untreated and primed canvas using Stockmar watercolours.

Each painting is a dialogue with the invisible world. Through each painting, a new aspect of my inner life becomes visible. Yet through abstraction, these highly personal paintings take on a universal mood that can touch anyone. For we are all connected by similar experiences we go through in our lives. Abstract art, in particular, can foster an understanding here where words are no longer needed. 

For my Bachelor’s thesis, I travelled through southern Africa (where I was born) in early 2025 and collected over 60 different types of earth to incorporate into a 6 x 2.2 metre painting. During this extensive process, my interest in working in harmony with nature became the focus of my artistic practice. I now make my own watercolour paints from gum arabic and the earth and stones I have collected.

I usually apply these, as before, to primed canvas. As creating paintings is a form of meditation, I now mainly use my hands and sponges to really work the pigments into the canvas – which gives my paintings a special depth.

Alongside my artistic work

,

I spend a lot of time working with young people. Somatic, dream-sensitive group work is particularly close to my heart and fills my weekends.

I look forward to a personal exchange about the art that finds its way into the world through me.