Klaus Kleine

Klaus Kleine is a contemporary German artist and educator currently serving as a Teacher for special tasks in the Department of Fine Arts at Alanus University. Born in 1974 in Olpe-Biggesee, he lives and works in Cologne, Germany, where he has developed a significant career in sculptural installation art.

His artistic practice centers on expansive installations that transform architectural spaces through the use of "poor" industrial materials. Kleine's work creates ephemeral yet meaningful spatial experiences that engage viewers in what critic Dr. Gerhard Kolberg describes as "creative memory work." His installations often explore the dialogue between interior and exterior spaces, human scale, and architectural principles, as evidenced in works like "THE PERGOLA PRINCIPLE" (2011) at Cologne's Fuhrwerkswaage art space.

The trajectory of Kleine's work demonstrates a consistent focus on spatial interventions that challenge conventional architectural expectations while maintaining a deep connection to human experience. His 2022 monograph "EARTH" documents over a decade of work that translates meaningful concepts into valid contemporary forms—"not restoratively, not nostalgically, nor with a claim to eternity, but gently," as Dr. Susanne Schulte noted in the GWK Sponsorship Prize catalogue.

• 2024 Kunstfonds Arbeitsstipendium, Stiftung Kunstfonds Bonn
• 2022 Katalogförderung Stiftung Kunstfonds Bonn
• 2021 Projektförderung "Modul-C" des Bundesministeriums für Kultur und Medien
• 2014-15 Berlin-Stipendiat (Junge Akademie) der Akademie der Künste Berlin
• 2009 Förderpreisträger bildende Kunst, GWK Münster

Throughout his career, Kleine has maintained an active exhibition schedule with numerous solo and group exhibitions across Germany and internationally. His work with institutions like the Academy of Arts Berlin, Museum Kunstpalast Düsseldorf, and international venues in Israel, Italy, and Korea demonstrates a significant contribution to contemporary art discourse. His teaching position at Alanus University allows him to bridge professional artistic practice with academic instruction, sharing his expertise in spatial concepts and installation art with emerging artists.