Elke Foltz

Lives and works in Berlin, Germany

Artist statement

I paint abstract compositions on large canvases, drawing inspiration from nature, moments of life, and memories. My curiosity lies in the quest for belonging and identity, caught between two cultures, between what’s inherited and what’s lived. My use of ink and oil paint allows me to work at two different paces: immediacy with the ink, and layered depth and texture with the oil paint. Together, they create spaces that function like an ecosystem, where shapes and colors connect and coexist. Throughout my artistic process, I have reintegrated pieces of canvas into the paintings through collage, tracing my own artistic path and transforming experimentation into playfulness. These cut-outs become witnesses to the process itself, offering a chance for renewal and balance. More recently, I have taken a new approach to my work, inviting figurative subjects from my immediate surroundings into contemplative scenery, a quiet way of staying anchored to the present moment. In parallel, I dig into visual references from major Senegalese artists: the painter Gora M’Bengue, a precursor of Suwèr (reverse painting on glass); the filmmaker and writer Ousmane Sembène; and the writer Mariama Bâ. All of them portray Senegalese life from a strong decolonial position. I hope my work connects with people as part of a whole, offering a sense of belonging, while resonating with the joy and depth that color can bring.

Artwork