Artiststatement
The ethics of perception – art as resonance between people
I paint portraits not as likenesses, but as resonance chambers. The focus is on the gaze - that silent, nonverbal gesture that defines relationships: a gaze can offer closeness or mark a
boundary, open trust or signal reserve. My painting makes these subtle signals visible and invites us to read them more consciously - in the artwork as in life. In this way, art once again
becomes a resonance between people.
Formally, I move between figuration and abstraction. Strong color combinations, decisive brushstrokes, and transparent layers create a vibrant field in which emotions appear in real time. The
friction between strength and delicacy gives rise to faces that do not fixate, but allow for response - dialogue instead of judgment.
My paintings are a counterpoint to the fleeting flood of images. They slow down the gaze, sharpen the perception of nuances:
a minimal tension of the eyelids, a tilt of the head, a reflection of light in the eye. Such details are not decoration - they determine whether we open ourselves or keep our distance.
I understand painting as the ethics of seeing. Each work is an invitation to look attentively and empathetically: to perceive boundaries, to allow presence, to examine one's own attitude. When we
relearn this language without words, encounters change - both private and public. That is precisely why I paint: to open up spaces where seeing becomes encounter and our togetherness gains
tangible meaning.
“I want art to function once again as a space for resonance between people: images that remind us to perceive and understand glances - beyond sensory overload. When we understand silent signals, encounters in both private and public spheres change.”
Gerti Landwehr's portraits, which make the unspeakable visible
Between briefings and screens, Gerti Landwehr began her career as a graphic designer - precise, ambitious, with clear ideas of her own. At first, her ideas were rejected by her superiors, but her
designs impressed clients and colleagues so much that attention turned to her talent. Words were never her forte; images were. At night, she visualized what could not be put into words - and let
her work speak for itself.
This experience gave rise to an attitude: portraits as a resonance chamber for the unspeakable. Gerti focuses everything on the gaze - eyes that seek closeness rather than pose, make silent
signals visible, and enable genuine encounters. If something turns out too smooth, she deliberately paints over it: out of clarity, not doubt. The result is faces that don't just depict, but
respond.
“I paint gazes that talk back.”
Why does this matter? Because society becomes impoverished when we no longer truly see each other. Amidst the hustle and bustle, sensory overload, and snap judgments, her paintings remind us of
what it means to be human: to perceive, to respond, to allow ourselves to be touched. In this way, graphic design becomes her own artistic voice - and images become a conversation that brings us
back to each other in an authentic way.
Today, Gerti Landwehr lives and works as a freelance artist in Austria. For several years now, her works have been successfully presented in galleries, solo exhibitions, and art fairs in Germany
and abroad - and now, for the first time, in an auction house. Sales and demand are developing positively; collectors in particular appreciate the consistency of her portrait style. This
popularity confirms that the imaginary has a real power that touches people and changes encounters - beyond the sensory overload of everyday life.
“The feedback from my clients reflects how my work is perceived in their personal experience.”
Collected from real encounters with my work
