Josefine Schulz
Josefine Schulz lives and works in Leipzig, Germany. She studied at the Academy of Fine Arts Dresden and at the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts Paris. In her work, she deals with the different realities of life in her generation and the visual influences on them. The motif of friendship is omnipresent: her protagonists, in larger and smaller groups, meet each other in everyday situations or retreat directly into their 'four walls'’ usually with a faithful companion in the form of a dog at their side. Josefine is represented by She BAM! Galerie Laetitia Gorsy is currently working on her upcoming solo show, which will open at the gallery in July.
Collect Bean: What does growth mean to you?
Josefine Schulz: For me, growth means being open to new things and constantly questioning your own reality. This might be uncomfortable at times, but you keep moving. And for me, change often leads to growth.
Collect Bean: If you had to describe your work in only three words, what would they be?
Josefine Schulz: Longingly, colorful, fun
Collect Bean: What does an ideal day in your studio look like?
Josefine Schulz: The day would start early in the morning with a walk to the studio. I would slip into my painting clothes, put on a mix of pop and indie, and start drawing. I usually draw relatively intuitively, perhaps inspired by a dog, a person, or a movie. If I'm struggling a bit, I'll flip through photography catalogs, magazines, or monographs of my favorite artists. Once I've settled into a groove, I decide on a drawing and translate it onto canvas. And then time flies...
Collect Bean: If you could be in a show with any artist, who would it be and why?
Josefine Schulz: This is difficult because the list is long. Alex Katz and Elizabeth Peyton are definitely at the top. But I also really like the work of Xinyi Cheng at the moment because it has something very intimate and familiar about it. I think we definitely have thematic overlaps, and that could harmonize well in an exhibition.
Collect Bean: Where are you currently finding inspiration?
Josefine Schulz: I'm currently enjoying watching road trip movies like Thelma and Louise, Crossroads, or Paris, Texas. I am already working on a series of new paintings that deal with this theme. In general, movies and series are a great inspiration for me because they always take me into new worlds and allow me to completely immerse myself in different moods.
Collect Bean: What role does color play in your practice?
Josefine Schulz: I really enjoy playing with bright color combinations in my work. My paintings often depict scenes that are at the intersection between comfort and restlessness. The figures strive for the ultimate fantastic, which is often not achievable in reality but remains wishful thinking. This resistant moment of hope is supported precisely by the colorful surfaces that stand in contrast to the depicted, often bordering on motionlessness in everyday life.
Collect Bean: What is something that you do to stay focused?
Josefine Schulz: I take breaks. Of course, there are also days when I sit in the studio for hours and don't really get to paint, but it's still necessary for me to be there and not distract myself. Routines also help me a lot to stay focused. For example, I have 2 or 3 specific songs that I always listen to when I start a new painting :D
Collect Bean: What is the kindest thing someone can tell you about your work?
Josefine Schulz: If someone feels connected to my work- that is the best.
Collect Bean: What is one of your current goals as an artist?
Josefine Schulz: In general, I want to spend as much time as possible in the studio and be able to do what I love. One goal for the near future is to be able to live and work at the Villa Aurora in Los Angeles for a while. That would be a dream.
