Karlo Walz

My work explores the depths of human emotion through facial expressions, gestures, and the nuances captured in photography. I am driven by an obsession with analyzing these elements, seeking to understand and convey their unspoken narratives. In my paintings, I strive to create a reflective space—one that acts as a mirror for the contemplating viewer. By pushing the boundaries of each medium, I aim to weave them together into a unified artistic language, bridging the gap between observation and introspection.

CV

Karlo Walz, born in 1960, grew up in Freudenstadt, Black Forest, in the south of Germany. He studied Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics in Karlsruhe with the goal of becoming a development aid worker. In between he completed two years of community service in Hamburg.
After earning the Diplom (aka Master) degree he did not want to work in this area and so he worked for several years with physically and mentally handicapped individuals in search of a working area, developed software applications, and finally get retrained for a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Finance.
He then took on a role in Controlling and moreover Financial Reporting Projects for a multinational corporation while living in Hamburg.
Since 2023 he is retired and follow now even more full time his art expression search.

Exhibtions

1984: Film „Behindert oder Was“ (30 min)
2016 Feb: „Blue Moon & Ashes“ – Solo Photography Exhibition at Galerie Herren Simpel, Hamburg (1 month)
2018 Nov: „Burner Moments“ – Solo Photography Exhibition at Ponybar, Hamburg (1 month)
2019 Mar: „Burner Moments“ – Collective Exhibition at CRCRL, Berlin
2022 Jun: „Temple of Now“ first edition in Agerso, Denmark
2023 May: „Temple of Now“ second edition at Schloss Beesenstedt, Sachsen-Anhalt
2024 May: Burn Creations – Collective exhibition at Studio Otto, Haus der Statistik, Berlin
2024 Jun: „Temple of Now“ – third edition – Sculpture at Nowhere, Spain
2024 Sept: Bodypainting performance at Mahalla Berlin during Berlin Art Week
2024 Nov: Small Temple of Now Installation at Mahalla Berlin for the Night of the Death
Plus several other minor installations and performances, primarily at regional Burns in Europe.

Photography

My photography is a medium to express my ideas, often through settings that resemble a performance—though not in the form of traditional posing. I view it as a dance, a form of communication between me and my subjects. It exists in the space between authenticity and curation.

Chaos serves as one of my guiding principles, while self-expression and immediacy are the core elements. I would like to showcase some of my works.
Bigger pictures can be seen in the portfolio gallery

Painting

As part of my plan to build an art temple for the Burner community in Europe—an installation meant to travel to various Burns—I decided to focus on art as a medium for meditation.

Approximately four years ago, I took a course in abstract painting at the Art University in Ottersberg, near Bremen. This experience captivated me, opening a new realm of expression that felt liberating compared to the constraints of photography settings.

I describe my work as “meditative spiritual abstract painting.” For me, these paintings are a medium to achieve the focus needed for meditation. I primarily use watercolors, ink, and acrylics. There are no plans to work with oil paints, graffiti, or similar mediums, as I create all my work in my living room and wish to avoid strong odors. The only exception is the occasional use of spray varnish.

I cannot yet foresee how this journey will continue, but I am eager to explore this path further.
Bigger pictures can be seen in the portfolio gallery