Karsten Födinger

Karsten Födinger is Professor for Sculpture/Materiality and Space at Burg Giebichenstein Art Academy Halle, having taken over the professorship in the summer semester of 2023. Previously, he served as a visiting professor at the same institution since winter semester 2022/2023, and taught at the Faculty of Architecture at EPFL in Lausanne from 2018 to 2023.

His educational background includes studies at the State Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe under Professors Günter Umberg and Meuser, completing his studies as Meuser's master student in 2009.

• State Academy of Fine Arts in Karlsruhe (completed 2009)

Födinger's sculptural work confronts elemental forces and structures at the interface between sculpture and architecture. His practice investigates the relationships between substance and form, with processual work with materials being fundamental elements of his work, alongside the places and contexts in which these processes occur. His teaching emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, as seen in his collaboration with Professor Marita Tatari on the seminar 'Imagination of matter,' which explores the transformation of subject-object categories in the Anthropocene and includes a joint excursion to an active lignite open-pit mine.

Professor Födinger has received numerous prestigious awards and scholarships throughout his career:

• Baloise Art Prize, Art 43 Basel Statements (2012)
• Graduate scholarship from Baden-Württemberg Art Foundation (2009)
• Scholarships from Baden-Württemberg Art Foundation (2012)
• Scholarships from Bonn Art Fund (2012, 2021, 2022)
• Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris residency (2012)
• Fogo Island Arts Residency scholarship in Newfoundland (2013)

As an educator, Födinger oversees various teaching formats including individual meetings, basic and final colloquia, team projects, and excursions. His students participate in specialized teams focusing on exhibition curation, public engagement, and interdisciplinary exploration of art and cooking. He emphasizes portfolio professionalization and application preparation for grants and residencies, reflecting his commitment to supporting emerging artists' professional development.

Födinger co-founded the Mark Pezinger publishing house for artists' books in 2009, developing over 60 publications with international artists by 2014. His monograph 'Toward a Radical Sculpture,' co-authored with Anna Rosellini and Roberto Gargiani, was published by DCV Verlag in 2021. His works have been exhibited internationally at venues including Palais de Tokyo in Paris, Hamburger Kunsthalle, and Kunsthalle Sankt Gallen.