Ela Mergels

Ela Mergels, born in 1969 in Germany, lives and works in Cologne. The artist and designer studied photography and film in Dortmund and Rotterdam. She works in various design cooperations, for example „cultureclubcologne“ and the „Designinstitut“. In addition to musicians and actor portraits (Fehlfarben, Amp Fiddler, Coco Rosie, Kaiserchiefs, Benno Fuermann, Renan Demirkan, Lutz Huelle ...) u.a. for the SPEX magazine, Intro, JNC, ... she works as a photo and video artist.
Her artistic work deals with the human being and its forms of life.
With regard to architecture, advertising, fashion, and the study of mythologies, sociology, philosophy and psychology, deep-rooted works are created which are implemented using a modern image language of photography or the video.
Her work has been shown in numerous exhibitions. For example „artothek“ / Cologne, „Haus der
Kunst“ / Munich, „transmediale“ / Berlin, in the Museum of Contemporary Art, MOCA DC / Washington,
„Contemporary Art Ruhr“/Essen Zollverein, „Wormland`s“ art collection/throughout Germany, Istanbul Biennale 2019 and during the artweek Miami 2023.
Furthermore, her publication „walking in between“ appeared, a photo-book about transgender.
In 2022, she published the photo book BE...

1992-1998: Studium Diplom Fotografie / Film FH Dortmund
1994: Studium Kunstakademie Rotterdam / Video

„artothek“ / Cologne,
„Haus der Kunst“ / Munich,
„transmediale“ / Berlin,
Museum of Contemporary Art, MOCA DC / Washington,
„Contemporary Art Ruhr“/Essen Zollverein,
„Wormland`s“ art collection/throughout Germany,
Istanbul Biennale 2019
artweek Miami 2023