Tina Oelker’s practice centres on painting, writing and concept-driven, long-term bodies of work.
Biography
Tina Oelker (born 1973 in Westphalia) is a German artist based in Hamburg. Since the early 1990s, she has developed long-term Painting Programmes in which conceptual ideas provide a framework for an organically evolving exploration of colour, form and composition. Her Painting Programmes include 1000 Hasen, 25 Colours Stockholm and TOPIA. Oelker spends time in Italy and maintains close ties to New York. Her work is represented in private and public collections.
Collections
- Folker Skulima Collection
- Falckenberg Collection
- Tchibo Collection
- Dreier Werke
Selected Awards and Residencies
- Art Empire Award (2022)
- Noble Project (2010)
- AIR Residency NYC (2009)
Selected Exhibitions
- 2025 — 33 Bilder, Brook 3, Hamburg (Solo)
- 2024 — Art’partment, curated by Leo Lüpertz, Berlin (Group)
- 2022 — Pandora’s Box, Galerie OBEN, Hamburg (Solo)
- 2021 — Die Bank, Worms (Solo)
- 2019 — West of Where the Sun Goes Down, No Man’s Art Gallery, Amsterdam (Group)
- 2015 — The World Is a Pineapple and a Hare Lives in It, Alte Münze, Berlin (Solo)
- 2012 — No Man’s Art Gallery, Paris (Group)
- 2009 — European Hare, Gershwin Art Hotel, New York (Solo)
- 2007 — Animalia, Museum Kamen (Solo)
- 2004 — Beautiful People, 23 cr Gallery, London (Group)
Artist-run Initiatives
Alongside her studio practice, Tina Oelker has initiated and directed independent artistic platforms, exhibitions and interdisciplinary formats, creating spaces for dialogue, collaboration and experimental practice.
- Since 2022 — Kryptiker — Founder & Curator
- 2017–2025 — Gesellschaftsabende — Founder & Host
- 2010–2014 — Hafentor7, Hamburg — Founder & Director
- 2003–2005 — Durchgang, Hamburg — Founder & Director
Education
Oelker studied in Hamburg and New York, where she developed the interdisciplinary foundation of her artistic practice.
- 1998–2004 — Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW), Diploma in Design
- 1995 — School of Visual Arts, New York
- 1994 — The Art Students League of New York
