The paintings of Eva Nüßlein (born in Bamberg in 1991) tell stories – not in long, complicated sentences, but in snapshots. Her artworks seem like scenes from a dream just before waking up: clear enough to be felt intensely, but open enough to be filled with one's own impressions. They are often theatrical scenes, laced with recurring symbols – stars, tears, shows and skulls. Her visual language is direct and bold.

Nüßlein's art requires no prior knowledge to be understood. It consists of a few, universally understandable elements that create an overall picture, an atmosphere and a feeling. Its easy readability is a statement. The artist comes from the working class, and her art is meant not to exclude anyone. The world she creates is radically accessible and inviting. All can relate to it because feelings are taken seriously. Fear, sadness, wonder and anticipation – there is room for all of these.

The world of music, punk and subculture is omnipresent in Nüßlein's art. Many of her titles and motifs are based on song lyrics – lyrics that accompany you at night; lines that stick in your memory. The outcome is art like a good album: emotional, loud and open.

Image: Eva Nüßlein, maybe twice in a lifetime, 2024, acrylic on canvas, 210 x 170 cm, photo: Steve Braun