One of Anna Hopfensberger’s most striking series is the ‘Mouths’, in which oversized mouths are superimposed on figures that appear rather small, thereby transforming them into abstract characters. These works push the boundaries to the extreme and captivate the viewer – not with gazes, but with mouths. According to Hopfensberger, these are scenarios that are, in some cases, even more readily embraced by the American art market. These are images that are expressive in every respect, created by a steadfast artist. What is already recognised as a distinctive style is, for Hopfensberger, however, just one of many approaches: If one takes a closer look at her full repertoire, it becomes clear that Hopfensberger tells many stories and dares to represent them in very different ways. She herself sees this versatility as a reflection of her personality; distinctions can sometimes even be found in the brushstrokes. Her diverse interests also play a part here. Alongside art history and philosophy, the artist also engages with technological innovations such as autonomous driving, artificial intelligence and NFTs.

Break down the barriers!

It is often critical voices from outside that push young artists in a very specific artistic direction. Comments from gallery owners repeatedly criticised Hopfensberger’s versatility, thereby teaching her one thing above all: that our creativity is already restricted by enough boundaries imposed by our upbringing, environment and the social conditions in which we live. Hopfensberger is capable of incorporating multiple styles and themes into her work and deliberately seeks to cross boundaries in order to counteract external criticism. In doing so, she also encourages many young artists to nurture their own creativity and not to commit to a particular direction too soon.

Breaking the mould!

Hopfensberger paints very intuitively, using thick, colourful brushstrokes and always bringing a breath of fresh air to his new works. A painting that truly

‘breaks

the mould’ is the piece featuring the ballerina. Expectations of beauty and perfection are deliberately ignored here; the figures seem almost out of place in an otherwise perfect setting. This is a form of realism that many other artists often shy away from. She herself is a passionate dancer and devotes a great deal of her free time to dance. Consequently, movement flows into the paintings and her subjects seem to be called upon to dance. With her work ‘The best time of my Life is now’ (100x75cm, oil on linen painting), she simultaneously brings a great deal of joy and ease back into painting. She draws inspiration from many contemporary artists, some of whom are influenced by a weariness with art history’s repetitive and predominantly male-dominated narrative – Picasso, Chagall, etc. – and counters this with the work of contemporary, young artists such as Jenna Gribbon or Salman Toor. She brings a breath of fresh air to the art scene, questions social structures and often dismantles them in her paintings. At the same time, she excels at capturing everyday moments and their protagonists, portraying them in a very intense manner. Anna Hopfensberger is a great asset to the Studierenden Kunstmarkt community and we look forward to many more wonderful works of art.