Andrea Büttner

In her artistic practice, Andrea Büttner examines the value systems and conventions that shape aesthetic experiences. She also explores the conditions of art production, exhibition, and reception.

Biography of Andrea Büttner

Andrea Büttner was born in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1972. She studied fine art at the Berlin University of the Arts. From 2003 to 2004, she pursued a master’s degree in art history and philosophy at the University of Tübingen and Humboldt University. She attended the Royal College of Art in London, where she earned her doctorate.

Since 2017, Büttner has been a professor of Art in Contemporary Context at Kunsthochschule Kassel. In 2017, she was shortlisted for the Turner Prize. She has also been honored with several international awards, including the 1822-Kunstpreis (2012), the Kunststiftung Baden-Württemberg Grant (2009), the Maria Sibylla Merian Prize (2009), and the British Institution Award (2005).

Her solo exhibitions include "Shame Punishments" at Jan Mot in Brussels (2024), "What is So Terrible About Craft?" at Hollybush Gardens in London (2024), "Andrea Büttner" at Galerie Tschudi in Zürich (2023), "Der Kern der Verhältnisse" at Kunstmuseum Basel in Basel (2023), "Shepherds and Kings" at Johanniterkirche in Feldkirch (2022), and many more.

Additionally, Büttner's works have been featured in numerous group shows held at various galleries and museums worldwide, including Schloss Bellevue in Berlin, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humblebæk, Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome, The National Gallery in London,  Galerie Parrotta in Köln, Centraal Museum Utrecht in Utrecht, among others.

Currently, the artist lives and works in Berlin, Germany. 

Andrea Büttner's Art Style

By exploring themes such as shame, vulnerability, dignity, and poverty, Büttner creates spaces for reflection. Her work prompts contemplation on the interplay between revelation and concealment in the public presentation of art, the value of craftsmanship, and the dynamic roles of both artists and audiences.

Büttner’s work examines subjective experience while intertwining it with a rich tapestry of art historical and cultural references. She draws on traditional Christian iconography as well as contemporary discourses and recent art historical trends. For instance, she deeply explores Christian monastic culture and Arte Povera, connecting them through the concept of poverty.

Her work spans a diverse range of media and materials, including prints, drawings, painting, reverse glass painting, sculpture, textiles, installation, photography, video, and performance. Her approach is defined by the contrast between the unique imprint of craftsmanship and works that downplay the artist’s authorship.