Kirsten Winderlich

Prof. Dr. phil. Kirsten Winderlich serves as Professor of Aesthetic Education in Childhood Art Education at the Berlin University of the Arts, where she has directed the grund_schule der künste (primary school of the arts) since 2012. She holds a position in the Faculty of Fine Arts with a focus on art education for primary schools. Her academic work bridges university, school, and cultural institution contexts through this unique teaching and research model.

Winderlich's educational background includes a PhD in Art Education from the University of Bremen, with prior studies in Special Education, Art Education, German Studies, and Theatrical Play at the Pedagogical University of Flensburg and University of Oldenburg. She has held professorships at both the Berlin University of the Arts and University of Potsdam, following earlier work as a special education teacher and research assistant.

Her research focuses on aesthetic education, moving between children and art with particular attention to children's drawings, contemporary picture books, educational spaces, and models of art education. Winderlich approaches these topics from a perspective that aims for critique of education through aesthetic lenses, exploring how spaces function as educational companions and how artistic processes can transform learning environments.

Her publications reveal consistent focus on spatial dimensions of education, children's artistic expression, and the educational potential of contemporary picture books. The trajectory shows deepening exploration of how aesthetic experiences shape childhood learning, with increasing attention to digital media and climate education in recent years.

Winderlich actively contributes to academic discourse through editorial work including the online journal grund_schule kunst bildung and the Picture Book Art blog. She has served as chair of the Special Prize Jury for the German Youth Literature Prize 2022 and maintains advisory roles with the Brandenburg Gate Foundation, Children's Arts Center Berlin, and Earth Speakr project.

Her teaching and research emphasize the integration of artistic practice into educational settings, particularly through space design and material exploration. She has developed numerous educational resources including the PlaySpaceCity program for architectural culture education and museum cards for educational use.