Michael Hakimi

Prof. Michael Hakimi is a Professor for Fine Arts focusing on painting at the Academy of Fine Arts Nuremberg (Akademie der Bildenden Künste Nürnberg). He leads the 'Klasse für Freie Kunst mit Schwerpunkt Malerei,' emphasizing interdisciplinary exploration across painting, sculpture, installation, and performance. His work interrogates the boundaries between media, content, and context, fostering collective and individual artistic expression through collaborative projects and critical dialogue.

Education & Career: Born in Eutin (1968), Hakimi studied at the Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach (1990–1993) and Hamburg’s Hochschule für bildende Künste (1993–1997). He co-founded the artist group Akademie Isotrop (1997–2000) and taught at the Bremen University of Applied Sciences (2009–2011) before joining Nuremberg in 2011. Since 2017, he serves on the Program Committee of kunstbunker e.V. in Nuremberg.

Research & Exhibitions: Hakimi’s practice spans installations, paintings, and participatory projects, addressing socio-political themes, materiality, and spatial narratives. Notable exhibitions include Cybernetics of the Poor (Kunsthalle Wien, 2021), Click for Portfolio (Galerie Karin Günther, 2022), and Augury (BQ Galerie, Berlin, 2016). His work engages with globalization, cultural identity, and institutional critique.

Awards & Recognition: Recipient of the Ars Viva Award (2004), Kunstfonds Work Grant (2003), and Hamburg City Grant (2002). His residency at Wien’s Lenikus Collection (2010) further shaped his transdisciplinary approach.

Teaching & Outreach: His class emphasizes experimental methods, blending personal artistic development with collective creativity. Students explore multimedia practices while engaging with socio-cultural contexts. The class’s activities and exhibitions are documented at galerieduglas.de.