Exhibit and Disseminate. Starting Part Four
- Marina WitteMann
- Apr 23
- 5 min read
Since I submitted Part 3 on the 22nd of January 2025, so much has happened. I feel like I’ve been in constant motion since then, actually, even earlier. On the 24th of December 2024, I was driving a rented Sprinter to Stuttgart to pick up my works from the exhibition there. I was a bit sick, but there was no time to stop. From that point on, I’ve been working nonstop, without weekends. I don’t mean to say that to show off, but just to explain the intensity of this period and how many things have been happening at once.
At the end of December, I suddenly received a very big commission from a Dutch CEO who discovered my work through an online gallery. He ordered a huge colour field painting (2 by 3 meters), which is the biggest single piece I’ve ever done.
Working process https://youtu.be/_keejYaQSKE
This experience taught me a lot: how to work closely with a client, how to explain my process and technique clearly,
how to agree on colours and terms, sign a contract, take risks, and handle the delivery and installation.
It was a huge learning moment, and I’m really proud of how it turned out.
Right after that, I went to Zurich to take part in a group exhibition in an alternative art space. Our works were shown in the windows of local shops, which brought a completely new context and a new kind of viewer-people just passing by on the street.
I was lucky to be invited by the organiser and got involved in developing the whole concept.
It was exciting to see how my works interacted with the objects inside the shops.
My pieces were placed in a shop that makes frames.
My works usually aren’t framed, so we decided to frame one small piece just to spark that contrast and start a dialogue.
Openning day
It made me think a lot about alternative spaces and how I want to connect with people beyond traditional gallery settings.
Another big project I was involved in is in Berlin, with a major hotel group - Pullman Schweizerhof.
They are planning to create their own art department, which will collect artworks and exhibit them across their hotel chain. This is very exciting because Pullman is one of the leading hotels in Berlin, with a wide and diverse audience.
At the same time, they have a progressive mindset and are working with companies, collectors, and people who truly care about art.
Even though my works have been exhibited there for two months already, we’re now planning the official opening during Berlin Art Week - when the whole city will be filled with art events.
This gives me hope for more visibility and great connections.
Also, I’m showing my work alongside amazing artists, and it’s another valuable exhibition in my portfolio.
At the same time, I had to manage other projects. One of them was ARTY SHOW in Zurich, which I already mentioned earlier. It brought a lot of new challenges and learning moments, especially dealing with customs documents to bring my works from the EU into Switzerland.
All these logistics were happening in parallel.
On top of that, I was also preparing for one of the biggest art fairs in Germany: Art Karlsruhe, which took place from the 20th to the 23rd of February 2025.
It was a really important experience for me.
I met many artists and made new connections. One artist, who I thought was “just” an artist, ended up inviting me to join a major online gallery, which I’m now part of. I also stayed in touch with other artists I met there, and we’re talking about possible collaborations.
What made it especially meaningful was the success I had this year. I sold some works (many even twice, so I had to create a new version),
and I also received another commission from someone who saw my work back in Stuttgart in 2024.
But I also realised something deeper. This was already my third year showing at Art Karlsruhe, and only now did I have this kind of breakthrough. I believe it’s because of the gallery I worked with this time, from Stuttgart. They fully supported me and agreed to present one of my large black pieces as a central work in the booth. This powerful work really pulled people in, it created a presence.
A lot of architects approached me, especially because the materials and texture of the work gave the feeling of sound absorption, which they found interesting. It showed me again how much it matters to find the right gallery that understands how to present your work.
At the same time, I had to manage the Zurich exhibition again - driving there, setting everything up, adjusting the display. It was intense, but so rewarding.
During all this intense period, I was also constantly thinking about my university project, my final Bachelor exhibition. As you know, I had already planned everything for an exhibition in a restaurant.
I developed the full concept and even installed all the works there.
The idea was based on identity and how mine has shifted over time. It was also a kind of retrospective because I’ve been working professionally as an artist for 13 years now, and this exhibition reflected on that journey. I found it very meaningful to build this idea.
But then I received feedback from my tutor at OCA, and also had this strange feeling inside me, something didn’t feel right. I realised that although it was a strong concept, it didn’t really fit with the learning outcomes for university. The university asked us to develop a new body of work and to clearly present the essence of our practice. My restaurant project felt more like looking back than moving forward.
That’s when I took a step back. I didn’t stop thinking about the concept, though. I was constantly searching for new ways to approach it. I explored many different venues - empty buildings, abandoned places, industrial spaces that might one day be rebuilt. I was looking for a place where my work could really stand out and where its materiality and presence would make sense. Still, I kept the restaurant exhibition as a complete project. It hasn’t had an official opening yet, but the restaurant is now fully functioning with my artworks on the walls.
At the same time, I was already planning for another group exhibition in July, meeting with other artists, and staying very active in the art scene.
When I look back now, since the 22nd of January, I see how much I’ve done. I thought I would only need to prepare one final exhibition for the university, but instead, I’ve already been part of four different exhibitions in 2025 alone, and three more are coming. I’ve also produced many new works, which I will describe in more detail later.
This is how I begin this final part of the course, and I will share more thoughts and reflections very soon.
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