Search results for 'Heike Kurtenbach' at the museum of art

Heike Kurtenbach’s art is defined by an expressive and intuitive approach to portraiture and figure painting, where each work seeks to reveal the emotional core of its subject through dynamic composition, bold gestures and a sensitive engagement with gaze and expression. Working primarily in acrylic, mixed media and drawing, she blends elements of expressiveness, illustrative tendency and, at times, comic or hyperrealistic detail to create faces and figures that feel deeply alive and singular. Her portraits — whether of real sitters or imagined characters — draw viewers into a direct, almost personal encounter, encouraging an emotional exchange that goes beyond surface likeness to touch on inner experience and individuality. In Kurtenbach’s practice, the process of painting itself becomes part of the message: she lets intuition, music and emotional resonance guide her hand, resulting in works that oscillate between raw immediacy and thoughtful reflection. The diversity of style within her oeuvre — ranging from sharply rendered features to more fluid, expressive marks — reflects a commitment to exploring how human expression, mood and story can be conveyed through colour, line and form. Exhibited widely in Essen and the Ruhr region, her work invites audiences to engage with the “soul” of portraiture, where each face carries its own narrative depth and visual presence.