The exhibition is organized in collaboration with The line up, an art platform initiated by Maria-Anna Meßner Haidenthaler. Through its dynamic event formats, The line up fosters vibrant dialogues between artists and ist audiences.

Johannes Kofler (b. 1982, Italy) playfully navigates the boundary between figuration and abstraction in his painting. Drawing inspiration from everything that visually and emotionally captivates him, he condenses these impressions into a multifaceted painterly kaleidoscope.

Kofler, born 1982 in Italy, lives and works in Brixen. Art education at the State Art School “Cademia” in Ortisei and the Free University of Bolzano, both in Italy. From 2012 –2016 he studied painting with Markus Lüpertz and Siegfried Anzinger at the Academy in Düsseldorf, Germany.

With great perseverance, Johannes Kofler pushes the development of his work, fully aware of the challenges of making an independent contribution to contemporary painting. “A painting that celebrates life and a life that celebrates painting.” (J.K., 2020)

Motifs emerge from the moment and the everyday, from lived experiences and often humorous ideas. It’s about the how, not the what, yet the titles still tell a story. In his most recent works, this narrative is entirely handed over to the viewer’s imagination as the paintings move further into abstraction.

Kofler’s conception of the image is influenced by the Italian Transavanguardia—particularly Ernesto Tatafiore—as well as the intricate visual worlds of Peter Doig and the bold color-form juxtapositions in Maria Lassnig’s work. His ambition is evident, and the consistency of his recent work confirms that the results are worthwhile.

This no man’s land deliberately creates space for interpretation—where every truth is welcome.

(Johannes Kofler)