13 Facts About Renate Bertlmann

Renate Bertlmann is represented by Richard Saltoun Gallery, London and Galerie Steinek, Vienna.

Renate Bertlmann was born in Vienna on the 28 February 1943.

Renate Bertlmann's mother encouraged her daughter's artistic talent from an early age and she received her first camera at the age of fourteen from her uncle, Josef Mattiazzo.

In 1964 Renate Bertlmann began her studies at the Academy, where she took painting classes and learned traditional craft techniques.

In 1965, Renate Bertlmann met Reinhold Renate Bertlmann, a physics student, who she married four years later.

In 1969, Renate Bertlmann created Verwandlungen [Transformations], posing for the camera with a self-timer, while wearing a series of outfits belonging to her mother.

In 1970, Professor Helmut Kortan offered Renate Bertlmann a teaching position at the Academy, which she held for twelve years.

Simultaneously, Renate Bertlmann produced staged photographs, such as Zartliche Pantomime [Tender Pantomime], Zartliche Beruhrungen [Tender Touches], and the series titled Renee ou Rene.

In 1978 Renate Bertlmann started to use her motto 'AMO ERGO SUM' [I love, therefore I am], which inspires the production of an eponymous titled letter-box filled with 77 letters containing secret messages from the artist to other people.

In 1983, Renate Bertlmann began addressing the theme of kitsch in her artistic production.

Between 1988 and 1989, Renate Bertlmann worked on a series of drawings, paintings and objects focusing on the themes of snow globes, magical devices and cheese covers.

In 2014, Renate Bertlmann participates at the 10th Gwangju Biennale, presenting Washing Day.

Two years later, the SAMMLUNG VERBUND in Vienna presents a retrospective of Renate Bertlmann's work, including full-size replicas of her installations, photographs, drawings and sculptures.