“Many of my works emerge from everyday situations—experimentation and spontaneity play a big role in my creative process.”
Rediscovery Through Reinvention
Art often begins where ordinary perception ends, and for Birgit Egen, this space is filled with discarded materials, intuitive gestures, and emotional resonance. With over two decades immersed in abstract painting and upcycled art, Egen transforms the seemingly mundane into compositions rich with narrative. Her journey—rooted in a lifelong inclination toward creative expression—has led her to study under the notable German artist Prof. Markus Lüpertz at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kolbermoor, deepening her practice through technical exploration and philosophical inquiry. Egen’s artistic voice doesn’t echo trends; instead, it converses with emotion, memory, and the overlooked fragments of everyday life.
Driven by experimentation and spontaneity, Egen approaches her creative process with openness rather than rigid planning. She draws inspiration from daily occurrences, personal encounters, and moments of emotional clarity. This freedom allows her to respond instinctively to both material and mood—yet behind every brushstroke and every image lies a process of deep reflection and intentionality. Egen emphasizes that while her practice may appear intuitive or improvised, each composition is shaped through careful, thoughtful engagement.
She particularly enjoys working with upcycling techniques, finding them to be a more meaningful and sustainable way of creating art. By using old materials and transforming discarded objects into new and resonant pieces, she breathes new life into what might otherwise be overlooked. For Egen, this process is not only a creative challenge but also a way to inspire environmentally conscious thinking and encourage a deeper appreciation for the resources that surround us.
Egen’s development as an artist wasn’t the result of a singular decision but evolved naturally over time. Creativity was always part of her daily rhythm, from painting and repurposing objects to exploring visual storytelling. Encouragement from those who engaged with her early works played a pivotal role in bringing her art into the public sphere. Starting with small exhibitions and gradually building wider visibility, she found affirmation in shared emotional responses. This collective connection remains at the core of her work—art not just as self-expression, but as an empathetic bridge between experience and interpretation.
Birgit Egen: Layers of Emotion, Lines of Connection
At the heart of Birgit Egen’s abstract compositions lies an exploration of human relationships—our attachments, our distances, and the complex emotional textures that bind or separate us. Her visual language oscillates between energetic bursts of color and quieter, more contemplative spaces. Whether through expressive brushwork or a single minimal gesture, Egen seeks to portray the emotional undercurrents that shape our inner worlds. The balance between intensity and subtlety allows her to move fluidly across different moods and registers, crafting works that resonate deeply without relying on representational cues.
Egen’s color palette and material choices are carefully attuned to the emotional narratives she wishes to convey. In some paintings, bold hues evoke urgency or passion, while in others, subdued tones offer a sense of introspection or stillness. She often uses lines as emotional signifiers—sometimes sharp and assertive, other times faint and tentative. These formal decisions are not merely aesthetic; they serve as entry points into emotional states that might otherwise remain intangible. Her approach invites viewers to project their own feelings onto the canvas, engaging with the artwork as both mirror and portal.
Freedom Within Structure, Chaos as Catalyst
The studio is more than a workspace for Birgit Egen—it is a sanctuary of possibility. She prefers an environment that allows ideas to flow freely: good lighting, a selection of paints, music in the background, and room to explore. This uncomplicated setup mirrors her approach to creativity, where structure provides just enough framework for spontaneity to flourish. Egen thrives on trying new combinations, experimenting with technique, and embracing detours. These diversions, rather than hindrances, often become the seeds of future projects. For her, artistic discovery lies in the unpredictable intersections between plan and impulse.
Distraction does not necessarily derail Egen’s practice; on the contrary, she often welcomes it. Interruptions can reframe her focus or introduce an unexpected idea. When overstimulation threatens to overwhelm, she turns to nature—a brief walk or fresh air is enough to restore her concentration. This adaptability reflects her broader creative philosophy: that art is not a rigid process but a living dialogue between artist, material, and environment. The ebb and flow of focus, energy, and thought are all part of what keeps her practice vibrant and authentic.
Her preference for acrylic paint stems from its flexibility and responsiveness, aligning well with her intuitive process. Yet Egen does not confine herself to a single medium. Collage, fabric, found objects, and paper frequently find their way into her pieces, creating dynamic surfaces and layered meanings. This openness to material exploration sustains her creative momentum and challenges her to push boundaries. Rather than seeking mastery over a medium, she seeks conversation with it—allowing each texture and substance to suggest new directions. Through this ongoing engagement, her practice remains ever-evolving, fresh, and grounded in curiosity.
Birgit Egen: Echoes of Influence and Imagined Horizons
The lineage of artists who inspire Birgit Egen reflects a shared commitment to honesty, emotional courage, and material innovation. Figures such as El Anatsui, Helen Frankenthaler, Tracey Emin, and Martha Jungwirth have deeply influenced her sensibilities. What connects them in Egen’s eyes is not just their mastery of form, but their willingness to embrace vulnerability, imperfection, and narrative complexity. These artists show that power in art often comes not from precision, but from the rawness of truth and the unpredictability of process. Their works, much like Egen’s, are not polished declarations but intimate investigations.
Egen draws particularly strong inspiration from how these artists handle the dialogue between personal experience and visual language. Whether through Frankenthaler’s fluid color fields or Emin’s confessional installations, each of them foregrounds the human story without resorting to literal depiction. This ethos aligns closely with Egen’s own approach—where emotion is translated through abstraction, and where meaning emerges through gesture, texture, and composition rather than direct representation. Their examples empower her to trust the ambiguity in her work and embrace its open-endedness.
Looking ahead, Birgit Egen envisions a future that expands the geographic and conceptual reach of her practice. She dreams of presenting her work on international platforms, particularly in contexts that emphasize sustainability and upcycled creativity. Exhibiting alongside like-minded artists committed to environmental and cultural dialogue is not just an ambition—it is an extension of her core values. Through these collaborations, she hopes to foster new conversations about change, possibility, and the stories embedded in discarded materials. Each exhibition, each encounter, becomes an opportunity to transform perception and build connections across boundaries.
