CV | Friedhard Kiekeben
Exhibitions, Projects, Public Art, 1986 – 2025
Contemporary Artist | abstract, minimal, digital & hybrid art | RCA | international shows since 1986 | Indianapolis-based | from Frankfurt M |
fkiekeben@yahoo.com
Walldrawings, Paintings and Overpaintings, Metal Friezes and Prints. Projects often play on a minimalist cut-and-paste and include many tailor-made site-specific installations. A recent focus of the work is on hybrid works that are ‘overpaintings’. The artist’s work reflects on multiplicity and originality in art, and aims for immersive experience and multifaceted views.
The work plays with conventions that art be static and confined rather than tumbling toward us. The predictable approach of geometric minimalism is often questioned and linearity is transformed into multi-facetted, or curvilinear hyperbolic views.
‘After the metaphysics of being and appearance…comes that of indeterminacy and the code…Today, when the real and the imaginary are confused in the same operational totality, the aesthetic fascination is everywhere.’ (Jean Baudrillard, Simulations).
In 2014, Sigalit Zetouni wrote in Chicagolife Magazine:
‘In 1968 Sol LeWitt started to create his distinctive wall drawings and developed a system of instructions that delineate the artwork before execution’,…and the artwork could be repeated at any time and at any place. Similarly, Friedhard Kiekeben creates his wall drawings’
Artist
also Fine Art professor / fine art practice, curation, and sci-art research, art lab projects courses
based in Indianapolis
Education
- MPhil RCA Research Degree in Fine Art Printmaking 1993, Thesis Title: “Reality, Illusion and the Matrix Principle”
Royal College of Art, London, England
- Diploma in Art and Design , (nine-year program) 1990
Specialization in Painting and Printmaking; Thesis Title: “Das Prinzip Reihung”
Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach, Germany
- Painting, Drawing and Printmaking 1986 – 1987
Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, Scotland
Select International Exhibitions and Projects
2026
- ‘Yun’ new Walldrawings and Paintings at Evanston Art Center, Chicago; with added collaborative work by Maria Burundarena (April 2026)
2025
- ‘Yun’ Kunstsammlung Hofheim in Bad Soden
- ‘Trama’, Wapahani Studios, Indianapolis
2024
- Solo Show ‘Overpaintings’, Gallery Arte Giani, Frankfurt
- ‘Yun’, Installation, Sanford Gallery, Zea Mays Studios, MA, 2024
2023
- Solo Show ‘Overpaintings | Madison’, Springer Art Center, Champaign, IL
- Labyrinth, Gallery Omnibus, Dresden, Germany, 2023
- Tieton 10, Tieton Arts Warehouse, WA
- Mapping Printmaking, Duoro Biennial
- AD 2023, Hokin Gallery, Chicago
2018 – 2022
- Crystal (Bonnard), Walldrawing, Douro Museum, Global Print, 2022; also: Overpaintings ‘Madison’
- Gallery Giani, Art Zurich
- Series Hamilton’ Art at Wharepuke, New Zealand
- Artists Prints, RIT City Art Gallery, Rochester, NY, 2021
- Kessho – Antifreeze, Walldrawing – Columbia College
- Black and White, Northville Art House
- Grey Cube Gallery, series Black White and Grey
- Site specific work Friction-Yellow, Techno Meme, The Fuse Factory, Columbus Art Center, OH, 2019
- Crystal, Frankfurter Kunstsäule, public art project, Frankfurt Germany, 2019
- Loop Orange / Green Dream, Yuwaku Sousaku no Mori Art Center, Kanazawa, Japan, 2019
- Solo show Walldrawings Gallery Arte Giani, Frankfurt, Germany, 2018, Wall Drawings: Cerulean – Tourbillon – Treccia; Arte Giani, Frankfurt,
- Loop Orange, 9th International Biennial, Moreira Center, Braganca, Portugal
- Installation Friction (yellow), Kloster Irsee, Germany
2017:
- Digital Wall Drawing Sindan, 3rd Global Print 2017 Biennial, Douro, Portugal
- Micro/Macro, Sulfur Studios, Savannah
- Tourbillon – Stony Island, Digital Banner Installation, Terrain / Civic Projects – Chicago Year of Public Art
2016:
- Loop-Blue, corporate commission, Motion PR, Chicago
- Electron Salon, Installation – Quantum Ice LA, Los Angeles Center for Digital Art
- Abstract Mind, CICA Museum, Korea
- In-Line, Sulfur Studios, Savannah
- Abstraction, Evelyn E. Jorgensen Gallery, MO
- Quantum-Square, CIRCA, Nest Art Factory, CT, catalogue
2015:
- Madison, Set of Prints/Drawings, Tieton 10X, Tieton Arts Center, WS, CAT
- Quantum Ice – Ohio, Vinyl Print Installation, Pearl Conard Gallery, OSU, Mansfield, Ohio
as part of Interventions, curated by the Fuse Factory, Columbus, OH
2014:
- On Form, Paintings In Volo and Loop- Drawing Projects, Gallery Arte Giani, Frankfurt
- ‘Unmonumental’, Public Arts Project, Columbia, MO, CAT
2013:
- Curation of On Big Drawings | extensive studio work: In Volo/Flow Painting Cycle
2012:
- Friction – Intaglio, Print Installation, Process and Purpose, Contemporary Printmaking,
Olive Branch, Ithaca, NY, CAT
- Retrospect, Selected Works from Gallery Artists, Arte Giani Gallery, Frankfurt
- Art Fairs, Arte Giani
2011:
- ‘Quantum Ice’, Arte Giani Gallery, and Frankfurt Zurich Art Fair, OMS
2010:
- ‘Tumble’, Gallery Guillaume Daeppen, Basel, OMS, CAT
- ‘Loop’, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, OMS, CAT
- ‘D’Offay Miniatures’, Murphy Hill Gallery, Chicago
- ‘Von Anfang An’, Arte Giani Gallery , Frankfurt
2008-2013:
- ‘Pillar Wrap’, public art installation
Commissioned by Chicago CTA and Columbia College, installed August 2008
2008:
- ‘Flower Cast’, Human Nature Exhibition, A+D Gallery, Columbia College Chicago, CAT
- Curator of ‘Multiply’, Alyson Shotz, Robert Krawczick, Jesse Seay, A+D Gallery, Chicago, CAT
- Cascade-Shatter-Flow’, Caro DOffay Gallery, Chicago, OMS
2007:
- Deva-Veda, Digital Print Installation, Castle Park Arts Center, Frodsham, UK, January – February 2007
- Co-curator with Jennifer Kiekeben of Multiply (UK) printed works by Columbia College students, Castle Park Arts Centre, UK, January – February 2007
- Work in Process, A+D Gallery, Chicago, CAT
- Friction – installation for Eye Tricks, Walsh Gallery, South Orange, NJ
2006:
- Cascade, installation, (OMS) at Ahlbergshallen Museum, Ostersund, CAT
- Publication of Cascade, New Work, Friedhard Kiekeben; Catalogue with introductory essay by Sabina Ott, CAT
- Flow installation for International Invitational, Christel DeHaan Arts Center, University of Indianapolis
- Curator: Two Halves, International Exchange Exhibition, RIT, NY / University of Chester / Frodsham Arts Center
2005:
- Transit, Retrospective Exhibition 1990-2006 OMS, Dean Clough Galleries, Halifax UK
- Deva, digital installation with additional prints, OMS at the Grosvenor Museum, Chester UK
2004:
- Representation at Art Frankfurt by Gallery Giani
- Contributor in International Mini Print Exhibition TS, CAT
2003:
- Beyond Steps, installation for the Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Preston UK
- Shatter, OME, Gallery Arte Giani, Frankfurt
2002:
- Aphelion, Art.tm, Inverness
- Represented at Glasgow Art Fair by Art.tm
- Howard Gardens Gallery TS, Cardiff
- Represented at Art Frankfurt, Arte Giani, CAT
- Wrexham City Art Centre
2001:
- Tinflowers, installation, OMS, Gallery Giani, Frankfurt
- Friction installation and TS, Bevier Gallery, Rochester, NY, CAT
- In-Print, Ferens Art Gallery, Hull UK, CAT
- Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries
2000:
- Field of Vision, installation, OMS, Kunsthaus Wiesbaden
- New Attitudes, Gallery Daeppen, Art Frankfurt, CAT
1999:
- Cluster, installation OMS, Gallery Guillaume Daeppen, Basel
- Cluster, installation, Kunst Zrich, CAT
- New Attitudes, Gallery Daeppen, Art Frankfurt, CAT
- University of Illinois
1998:
- Bilder sind staerker als Worte, installation, Gallery Daeppen, Basel
- Crystal Yellow, installation, OMS, Art Frankfurt
- Friction – Beyond Steps, Harris Museum, Preston, UK, 1998
Installation for Gallery Daeppen, Art Zurich, CAT
- Crystal Black, installation, OMS, Citizens Studios, Edinburgh
1997:
- Crystal-Red, installation, OMS, Kunstverein Friedberg, CAT
- Publication of Crystal catalogue with essay by Johannes Kogler, CAT
- Installation, Objekte, Graphik, Arte Giani, Frankfurt, CAT
- Art Frankfurt, Arte Giani, CAT
- Art Cologne, Gallery Guillaume Daeppen, CAT
- AWARD: First Media Art Prize, Deutsche Telekom
1993-96:
- In Print, Castle Museum, Nottingham, CAT
- In Print, Walsall Museum and Art Gallery, CAT
- ArCade – Digital Art TS, University of Brighton, CAT
- La folie du voir, installation, Gallery Daeppen, Basel
- Friction, installation, Art Cologne, Gallery Daeppen, CAT
- Transit, installation OMS, Gallery Daeppen, Basel
- Publication of Friedhard Kiekeben Selected Works – with essay by Charles Esche (Van Abbemuseum), CAT
- Artists’ Impressions, Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge, CAT
- Depot – Public Warehouse, Art Cologne, CAT
- Durhammer Gallery, Frankfurt
- Installation for American and European Works on Paper, Gallery 86, Trier, CAT
- Transit installation, Royal College of Art, London, CAT
- AWARD: OSARCA Prize 1993, Royal College of Art, London
1992:
- Fusion Projects, Royal College of Art, London
- Square Progression, Installation OMS, Gallery 86, Trier
- Art Book, Hebbel – diaries?, Edition Tiessen
- Matrix, installation OMS, Gallery Daeppen, Basel
- AWARD: Mathews Wrightson Trust Award, RCA, London
1991:
- Domacinovic, Uliczka, Kiekeben installation, Kunstverein Offenbach, CAT
- Square Progression, installation OMS, Gallery Daeppen, Basel
- Square 33, installation, OMS, Maclaurin Gallery, Ayr
- AWARD: Artist Award Johannes Mosbach Stiftung, OF
1990:
- Square 33, installation, Hochschule fr Gestaltung, OF
- Kunststudenten stellen aus, Kunsthalle, Bonn, CAT
- Sequence 52, installation OMS, Galerie im Kreishaus, Hofheim
1986-89:
- Media, installation, Gallery G. Daeppen, Frankfurt
- Roepke-Kiekeben, Epiphanias Gallery, OMS, Frankfurt
- 22nd Arnoldshainer Ausstellung, OMS
- Project David, installation, OMS, Gallery Daeppen, Frankfurt
- Totem, Dreieich Gallery
- Selected Works, Main-Taunus Arts Trust
- AWARD: Studio Scholarship, Frankfurter Sparkasse
- AWARD: First Prize, Kunstsammlung Main-Taunus, Hofheim
Work Held in Collections
Springer Art Center, Champaign, IL
private collections, Chicago
Douro Museum, Douro, Portugal
private collections, Frankfurt and Zürich
private collections, Rochester NY & Ithaca NY
Collection Schlosser, Bad Homburg
Collection Guillaume Daeppen, Basel
Columbia College Chicago
Royal College of Art, London
Collection Reeves, UK
Collection Shaw, Scotland
Grosvenor Museum, Chester, UK
Ostersund Municipal Collection, Sweden
University of Indianapolis
Rochester Institute of Technology, NY,
Cary Collection, RIT
Gracefield Arts Centre, UK
Kunstsammlung Main-Taunus
Warwick Arts Trust, London
Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach
Frankfurter Sparkasse, Offenbach
Deutsche Bank, Frankfurt/Darmstadt
Collection Schirmer, Trier
Europaeische Akademie fuer Bildende Kunst, Trier
Collection Giani-Leber, Frankfurt
Kunstsammlung der Deutschen Telekom, Suhl / Berlin
GAP, Frankfurt,
Other Private Collections
Curation: On Big Drawings