Art21 Extended Play

Anarchic Color in Katharina Grosse’s Paintings

Katharina Grosse’s Berlin studio. Production still from the series ART21 Exclusive. © ART21, Inc. 2015. Cinematography: Claus Deubel

“Painting is one of the ways to actually make [my thoughts] visible and understandable for myself” —Katharina Grosse

Today’s ART21 Exclusive shows Katharina Grosse in her studio and at Johann König Gallery (both in Berlin), discussing her use of color when painting on three-dimensional and flat surfaces. “I like this anarchic potential of color,” says Grosse, who paints very rapidly with an industrial spray gun. Grosse explains that despite an early interest in language and reading, she was attracted to painting because of its non-linear qualities. She elaborates further saying that painting “compresses time, shortening the process of thinking and acting.” Among the works featured is an exhibition of the artist’s paintings on paper at Johann König Gallery in Berlin.

CREDITS: Producer: Ian Forster. Consulting Producers: Wesley Miller & Nick Ravich. Interview: Susan Sollins. Camera: Claus Deubel & Mark Walley. Sound: Oliver Lumpe & Angela Walley. Editor: Morgan Riles. Artwork Courtesy: Katharina Grosse, Johann König Gallery and Nasher Sculpture Center. Archival Images Courtesy: Katharina Grosse. Theme Music: Peter Foley.

ART21 Exclusive is supported, in part, by 21c Museum Hotel and by individual contributors.