Karl Ludwig, after van Dyck Painting

Anja Wülfing, based in Cologne, Germany, is an artist whose work revolves around the exploration of contrasts and oppositions. Her creative drive stems from the duality within her artistic vision: one side deeply rooted in the traditional aesthetics of Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassicism, and the other drawn to the freedom of abstraction. Wülfing’s art seamlessly blends these opposing forces, where figuration meets abstraction, and tradition intertwines with modernity. She achieves this through her unique approach to materials and techniques, stitching together fine and coarse canvas and using a mix of media. Classic elements are rendered in oil, while abstract components are brought to life with acrylics, pencils, and markers. This fusion of different textures and methods creates a harmonious unity out of seemingly disparate elements. In her compositions, Wülfing plays with contrasts such as light and dark, dynamic and static, strict and playful, crowded and empty. Yet, she carefully balances these opposing forces, ensuring that neither dominates but rather enhances the other. The styles may seem to compete for attention, but in the end, they coexist in a mutually enriching dialogue. Her painting process is precise and methodical, drawing on the familiar, the time-honored, and the matured. The figures are meticulously painted in oil, while the abstract elements, added in acrylics, pencils, and markers, bring a modern energy. Through this blend of classical technique and contemporary expression, Wülfing creates distinct “frequencies” of emotion and mood, shaped by the interplay of form and color.