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David Ostrowski

David Ostrowski has produced a body of work that revolves around the idea of reduction — an interplay between nothingness and poeticization beyond cultural and painterly codes. Ostrowski’s paintings are products of a desire to eliminate painterly knowledge. They are expressions of the idea that in producing notions of emptiness, one also grapples with and comments on the history of painting. Ostrowski’s light-handed and complex approaches to the non-motif open the space of the canvas to unique breaches of perception and an unexpected freedom of seeing.

David Ostrowski (b. 1981, Cologne, Germany) lives and works in Cologne. From 2004 till 2009, he studied under Albert Oehlen at the Academy of Arts in Düsseldorf. Since 2022 he is a professor for painting at the Academy of Arts in Karlsruhe. Ostrowski's work has been shown across Europe as well as in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing. His work has been collected by prestigious public and private collections worldwide.

David Ostrowski, F (Yes or let’s say no), 2013, acrylic, lacquer and paper on burlap, wood, 241 x 191 cm

I strive to trigger the greatest possible emotional affects with the least possible means.

David Ostrowski

Biography

Education

  • 2004 – 2009

    Academy of Arts, Düsseldorf, Germany

Professorships

  • Since 2022

    Academy of Arts, Karlsruhe, Germany

Exhibitions

  • 2024

    De Brock, Knokke, Belgium

    Sprüth Magers, New York, NY, USA

  • 2023

    Fig., Tokyo, Japan

    Ramiken, New York, NY, USA

  • 2021

    Pas une Orange, Barcelona, Spain (with Oliver Osborne)

    Spazio ORR, Brescia, Italy (with Magnus Frederik Clausen)

    MOUNTAINVIEW Gallery, Cologne, Germany

    Sprüth Magers, Berlin, Germany

    MD Bar, Cologne, Germany

  • 2020

    Lady Helen, London, UK (with Angharad Williams)

    Avant-Garde Institute, Warsaw, Poland (with Tobias Spichtig)

    JIR SANDEL, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Leeahn Gallery, Seoul, South Korea

  • 2019

    Galeria Nuno Centeno, Porto, Portugal

    Sundogs, Paris, France

    Richas Digest, Cologne, Germany

    Piece Unique, Cologne, Germany

  • 2018

    Sprüth Magers, London, UK

    Wschód, Warsaw, Poland

  • 2017

    Carl Kostyàl, Stockholm, Sweden

    Halle 9 Kirowwerk, Leipzig, Germany

    Blueproject Foundation, Barcelona, Spain

  • 2016

    Sprüth Magers, Los Angeles, CA, USA (with Michail Pirgelis)

    Siegburger Str. 235, Cologne, Germany

    Buchhandlung Walther König, Cologne, Germany (with Michail Pirgelis)

    Leopold-Hoesch-Museum, Düren, Germany (with Michail Pirgelis)

  • 2015

    032c Workshop, Berlin, Germany

    Kunstraum Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

    ARKEN - Museum of Modern Art, Ishøj, Denmark

  • 2014

    Rubell Family Collection, Miami, FL, USA

    Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Turin, Italy

    Peres Projects, Berlin, Germany

    Galerie Almine Rech, Paris, France

    Oko Gallery, New York, NY, USA

  • 2013

    Simon Lee, London, UK

    Jan Kaps, Cologne, Germany (with Michail Pirgelis)

    Siegburger Strasse 235, Cologne, Germany

    Artothek, Cologne, Germany

    Peres Projects, Berlin, Germany

  • 2012

    Bolte Lang, Zurich, Switzerland

    LTD, Los Angleles, CA, USA

    Nudashank, Baltimore, MD, USA (with Jack Henry)

    Figge von Rosen Galerie, Cologne, Germany

    Jagla Ausstellungsraum, Cologne, Germany (with Harmony Korine)

  • 2011

    Mike Potter Projects, Cologne, Germany (with Michail Pirgelis)

    Format:C, Düsseldorf, Germany (with Philip Seibel)

  • 2010

    Parkhaus im Malkastenpark, Düsseldorf, Germany (with Luke Barber-Smith)

  • 2008

    First Floor Contemporary, Düsseldorf, Germany (with Max Frintrop)

  • 2007

    Fette's Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Kunstraum Acapulco, Düsseldorf, Germany (with Max Frintrop)

  • 2006

    Raum für Kunst und Musik, Cologne, Germany (with Michail Pirgelis)

  • 2005

    Raum für Kunst und Musik, Cologne, Germany

Collections

  • Australia

    Museum of Old and New Art, Berriedale

  • Belgium

    Charles Riva Collection, Brussels

  • Denmark

    Arken Museum Collection, Copenhagen

  • France

    Louis Vuitton Collection, Paris

  • Germany

    Sammlung Braunsfelder, Cologne

    Sammlung Goetz, Munich

    Sammlung Olbricht, Berlin

    Sammlung Philara, Düsseldorf

    Sammlung Scharpff, Bonn

  • Israel

    Tel Aviv Museum, Tel Aviv

  • Italy

    Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, Torino

  • Japan

    Taguchi Art Collection, Tokyo

  • Mexico

    Colección Jumex, Mexico City

  • Sweden

    Moderna Museet, Stockholm

  • Switzerland

    The Syz Collection, Geneva

  • UK

    Danjuma Collection, London

    Zabludowicz Collection, London

  • US

    De la Cruz Collection, Miami, FL

    Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA

    Marciano Art Foundation, Los Angeles, CA

    Rubell Family Collection, Miami, FL

  • Lebanon

    Aishti Collection, Beirut

Selected images

Exhibitions