Katharina Weinstock

Katharina Weinstock is a Research Fellow at the Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design (HfG), specializing in Art Research & Media Philosophy. She holds a Dr. des. (Doctor of Design) and has taught at institutions like UdK Berlin and Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, focusing on modern/contemporary art and curatorial practices. Her research explores digital aesthetics, post-digital art, and the intersection of social media platforms with visual culture. Currently, her DFG-funded project 'Designing Habits: The Digital Image as Application' analyzes digital image interfaces and their psychological impacts. She co-founded the interdisciplinary journal UMBAU and has authored/co-authored papers on topics ranging from surrealist object practices to institutional critique. Her work bridges art history, media philosophy, and critical theory, with grants from the DFG and international residencies at institutions like the Getty Center and UCLA.

Education:

• Studies in 'Art Research & Media Philosophy' and 'Curatorial Practice' at HfG Karlsruhe
• Cultural Studies (KIT's Studium Generale and Humboldt University Berlin)
• Doctoral work in the DFG Research Training Group 'The Problem of the Real in Modern Culture' at University of Konstanz

Research Interests:

• Post-digital art and media culture
• Surrealism’s legacy in curatorial practices
• Materiality and digital reproduction
• Institutional critique in contemporary art
• Social media aesthetics and affective design

Grants & Projects:

• DFG Priority Program 'The Digital Image' (current postdoc project)
• Getty Center and UCLA research residencies
• Founder of UMBAU journal (2020)

Labs/Teams: Active in the Art Research & Media Philosophy department at HfG, contributing to the Open Resource Center (ORC) and interdisciplinary collaborations.