Norbert Witzgall

Norbert Witzgall is a German visual artist and lecturer at the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK Berlin), where he has been teaching since 2014. His academic journey at UdK began at the Institute for Art History and Aesthetics, progressed to a visiting professorship in the basic course of fine arts, and currently holds the position of lecturer in the foundation class since 2019. His teaching extends internationally with lectures at Kunstuniversität Graz, Universität Potsdam, Stockholm Royal Institute of Art, and Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart.

Witzgall received his formal art education from multiple prestigious institutions:

• 2003: Akademie der Bildenden Künste, Vienna
• 2001: UdK, Berlin
• 1998: Ecole des Beaux Arts, Lyon
• 1996: Akademie der Bildenden Künste in Nuremberg

His artistic practice centers on painting with a specialized focus on portraiture, exploring the complex tensions between person and persona, presentation and representation. Drawing from a rich archive of photographic source material, Witzgall's portraits create an anachronistic community of Hollywood actors, friends, collectors, and historical figures, forming a fluid, diaristic practice that examines the intersection of private and public identity. His work has been exhibited extensively across Europe and North America, with solo exhibitions at Autocenter Berlin, Deweer Gallery in Otegem and Brussels, Evans & Witt in London, and group exhibitions at notable venues including the Accademia Brera in Milan, the House of World Cultures in Berlin, and galleries in New York, Los Angeles, Vienna, and Brussels.

Witzgall's publications and critical reception show a consistent engagement with contemporary art discourse, with emphasis on portraiture, identity construction, and institutional critique. His most recent works reflect contemporary concerns while maintaining a strong connection to art historical traditions, particularly in the realm of figurative painting.

Throughout his career, Witzgall has been actively involved in curatorial projects, including the foundation and organization of the project space SOUTERRAIN in Berlin (2007-2013), co-curation of the annual exhibit at the Hoffmann Collection (2018-2019), and co-curation of 'Klassismus' at Berlinische Galerie (2022). His collaborative projects, such as 'Illiberal Arts' at HKW Berlin (2021) and 'Funeral Charades of Poses' at HAU - Hebbel am Ufer (2011), demonstrate his commitment to interdisciplinary artistic practice and institutional engagement.

Witzgall maintains an active studio practice while contributing significantly to art education at UdK Berlin and other institutions, positioning him as a notable figure in the contemporary German art scene with a distinctive voice in contemporary portraiture and visual culture.