Kim Bartelt (b. Berlin, Germany) is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice explores the ephemeral nature of form, material, and perception. Her work, which exists at the intersection of painting and sculpture, is characterized by delicate layers of paper applied to canvas, creating compositions that emphasize both structure and fragility. Through her nuanced approach to materiality, Bartelt examines the interplay between the seen and unseen, permanence and transience, offering meditative reflections on spatial and emotional depth.
Bartelt initially studied art history in Paris before completing a foundation year at Parsons Paris and earning a degree in Fine Art from Parsons School of Design in New York. Early in her career, while working in set painting for large-scale commercial productions, she became drawn to the discarded sheets of paper used in the process. This discovery led her to develop a distinctive artistic language centered on the subtle translucency and layered complexity of paper as a primary medium. Since returning to Germany in 2003, her practice has evolved to include large-scale sculptural works, where she employs deceptively fragile materials such as packing paper and papier-mâché to explore notions of space and volume.
Bartelt has exhibited internationally, with notable solo exhibitions including Cadogan Gallery, London (2024), Cadogan Gallery, Milan (2023), and Cadogan Gallery, London (2022). Her work has also been featured in major group exhibitions such as An Endless Curve – Art Perspectives III at Circle Culture Gallery, Berlin (2022) and A Double Presentation at Wilhelm Hallen #2, Berlin (2021). She has participated in exhibitions across Mexico City, Ghent, London, and Berlin. In 2019, Bartelt completed artist residencies at Numeroventi in Italy and Joya AiR in Spain, further enriching her exploration of material and spatial relationships.