Antonia van Gallenstein (Valerie Strobl)

I am a contemporary artist based in Braunschweig, Germany. After studying Prehistoric Archaeology and Historical Archaeology at the University of Vienna, I combine historical research with contemporary painting.

My artistic practice explores history, social structures, identity and memory. I am particularly interested in how historical power structures and cultural ideas continue to shape the present and influence our understanding of identity, gender and society.

My work often connects historical figures and narratives with contemporary questions. By bringing different periods and cultural perspectives into dialogue, I explore the tensions between social expectations, individual identity and the ways in which people are represented and remembered.

Extended stays in different countries, including my collaboration with a feminist collective in India, have further shaped my interest in diverse cultural and social perspectives.

I work primarily with acrylic, ink and gold leaf on secondhand canvases, combining figurative painting with abstract and expressive elements. The use of reused canvases is an integral part of my practice and reflects my interest in questioning established ideas of value, transformation and permanence.

Through my work, I seek to create images that are visually striking while opening up questions about who is seen, who is remembered, and how identities are shaped by the societies we live in.