Paula Doepfner
born 1980 in Berlin, lives and works in Berlin

Paula Doepfner’s work comprises drawings, performances, and objects made of glass, ice and organic matter. The content of her work is drawn from literary texts and documents relating to human rights abuses and the Holocaust. Her drawings consist of minute script on transparent paper; she writes lines of text in tiny letters (ø = 1 mm) to form textual images. The drawings are based on sketches she makes while observing autopsies and brain surgery at the Charité University Hospital Berlin. The strings of text in her drawings are taken from the Istanbul Protocol, a UN handbook on the investigation and documentation of torture and other cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment, and from documentary material on the children of Auschwitz. She combines these documentary texts with literary works by the likes of Anne Carson, Paul Celan and Robert Musil.

Paula Doepfner studied fine art at the Universität der Künste Berlin and at Chelsea College of Art and Design London. In Berlin she completed her studies, graduating from the masterclass of Rebecca Horn. Doepfner has received various grants and awards, including the Hans Platschek Prize (2024), the artist grant from the Krull Foundation (2023), the EHF Stipend from the Foundation Konrad Adenauer (2022), the stipend of the Albert Koechlin Foundation Lucerne (2010) and the Elsa Neumann Scholarship from the state of Berlin (2008). She has exhibited in national and international institutions, with solo exhibitions at the Kunstforum der TU Darmstadt (2025), the Museum Kupferstich-Kabinett Dresden (2023) and the Goethe-Institut Washington, DC (2015). Her work has also been shown in group exhibitions at institutions such as the Medizinhistorisches Museum Berlin (2023), the Museum Reinickendorf in Berlin (2022) and the Linden Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne (2013). Doepfner’s works are part of public and private collections including the Kupferstichkabinett Berlin / Berlin State Museums, the Museum Kupferstich-Kabinett / Dresden State Art Collections, the Buch- und Schriftmuseum / German National Library in Leipzig and the Museum of Fine Arts Budapest.

Scholarships and awards

2024
Hans Platschek Preis für Kunst und Schrift, Germany
2023
Artist scholarship, Krull Stiftung, Berlin, Germany
2021/22
EHF Stipend, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Germany
2015
Artist in residence, Goethe-Institut, Washington, DC, United States
2011
Art prize, Kunstverein Östliches Sauerland, Germany
2010
Stipend, Albert Koechlin Stiftung, Lucerne, Switzerland
2008/09
Artist scholarship, Elsa-Neumann-Stipendium des Landes Berlin, Germany

Solo exhibitions

2025
Paula Doepfner – Desolation Row, Kunstverein Konstanz, Germany
I heard the sound of a thunder, it roared of a warnin’, Kunstforum der TU Darmstadt, Germany
2023
Paula Doepfner – Darkness at the break of noon, Kupferstich-Kabinett, Museum für Zeichnung,
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen / State Art Collections Dresden, Germany
2022
I went to the crossroads, EinWand VII, Akademie Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Berlin, Germany
Took me way down to that red hot land, Galleria Mario Iannelli, Rome, Italy
I woke up this morning with an awful aching head, Kreuzberg Pavillon, Berlin, Germany
2021
Half my soul belongs to you, Galleria Mario Iannelli, Rome, Italy
Today, tomorrow, and yesterday, too, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung at B-Part, Berlin, Germany
2020
It’s all just a dream, babe, a vacuum, a scheme, babe, Kreuzberg Pavillon, Berlin, Germany
2019
For the trees to drop, Stiftung St. Matthäus, Berlin, Germany
2018
Next Time I See You, Galleria Mario Iannelli, Rome, Italy
2017
Babe, I’ve left you somewhere in the rain, Una Vetrina, Rome, Italy
YOU and ME, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin, Germany
2016
Put it right here (or keep it out there), Kunstverein Reutlingen, Germany
2015
Take It Right Back, Goethe-Institut, Washington, DC, United States
Me and the devil, we’re walking side by side, Kreuzberg Pavillon, Berlin, Germany
2014
When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed, Galerie Laurent Mueller, Paris, France
Whatever gets you through the night, it’s alright, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin, Germany
2013
Rollin’ High and Mighty Traps, S2A, New York, United States
2012
More than I can hide, Kunstverein Östliches Sauerland, Brilon, Germany
Try my dear, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin, Germany
2011
But my nerves were kicking, Ionion Center for the Arts, Kefalonia, Greece
2010
Promessus, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin, Germany
Fallen, Stadtmühle Willisau, Lucerne, Switzerland
2009
Im Schlaf ohne Schlaf, St. Johannes Evangelist-Kirche, Berlin, Germany

Group exhibitions

2025
In Process, Galleria Mario Iannelli, Rome, Italy
2023
Das Gehirn in Wissenschaft und Kunst, Medizinhistorisches Museum der Charité, Berlin, Germany
Narrative Pieces, Galleria Mario Iannelli, Rome, Italy
Unmaking, Galleria Mario Iannelli, Rome, Italy
2022
Strich um Strich. Zeichnen 2, Galerie Etage, Museum Reinickendorf, Berlin, Germany
2021
All I Think About Is You, Galerie Georg Nothelfer in cooperation with Kunstsaele, Berlin, Germany
Deceleration, Ausstellung zum Kunstpreis des Haus am Kleistpark, Haus am Kleistpark, Berlin, Germany
2020
Freitod – Exhibition on the 10th anniversary, Kunstsaele, Berlin, Germany
Listen to a Heart Beat, Galerie Thomas Schulte, Berlin, Germany
Gathering the unpredictable, Galleria Mario Iannelli, Rome, Italy
Before the Dust Settles, Galerie FeldbuschWiesenerRudolph, Berlin, Germany
Boxenstopp, Kwadrat, Berlin, Germany
Das Blatt, Curated Affairs, Kunstverein am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, Düsseldorf/Berlin, Germany
2019
Der Funke Gottes, Diözesanmuseum Bamberg, Germany
Resonance, Galleria Mario Iannelli, Rome, Italy
Drawing Wow, BcmA, Berlin, Germany
Zwischen Urwald und Kunstrasen, Cubiculum, Berlin, Germany
Kunstpreis Psyche, FBZ der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
Fire in the mind, Galleria Mario Iannelli, Rome, Italy
2018
Abenteuer Freundschaft, Kunstsaele, Berlin, Germany
Bataillon d’Amour, Galerie Kleindienst, Leipzig, Germany
Generali, Galleria Mario Iannelli, Rome, Italy
Marianne Werefkin-Preis 2018, Kommunale Galerie Berlin, Germany
2017
Lost in Transition – vom Flüchtigen, Ephemeren, Kunstforum der TU Darmstadt, Germany
Berliini – Nastola, Taarasti Art Center, Nastola, Finland
Ubi fracassorium, ibi fuggitorium, artQ13, Rome, Italy
Learning from big mistakes, Galerie Tanja Wagner, pop-up, New York, United States
(un)mediated nature, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin, Germany
On botany, BLOK art space, Istanbul, Turkey
2016
You are what you are, Galleria Mario Iannelli, Rome, Italy
UM-Festival, Uckermark, Germany
The Big Other, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin, Germany
2015
Wo ist hier? #2: Raum und Gegenwart, Kunstverein Reutlingen, Germany
The Vacancy, temporäres Kunsthaus, Berlin, Germany
2014
Ease your Window Down, Kunstverein am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, Berlin, Germany
Ego Editions, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin, Germany
2013
Mono-no-aware, Linden Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne, Australia
Real Naturally, Kunsthalle Lana, Merano, Italy
Ausstellung 8, Berlin Art Junction, Berlin, Germany
Blumen/Flowers/Blomster, Galerie Mickael Andersen, Berlin, Germany
2012
Zeichnungen von Bildhauern, Kunstverein Mainz, Germany
Zeichnungen, Salon Dahlmann, Berlin, Germany
Discussing Metamodernism, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin, Germany
Ausstellung 5, Berlin Art Junction, Berlin, Germany
Plants talk II, Kunstverein Potsdam, Germany
2011
Plants Talk, Naturhistorisches Museum Witzenhausen, Germany
Mythos Wald, Kunstverein Östliches Sauerland, Brilon, Germany
kommen sie nach hause, Steff Adams, Köln, Germany
Ausstellung 3, Berlin Art Junction, Berlin, Germany
Funkhaus Art Prize Exhibition, Berlin, Germany
Kunstaktien in den Uferhallen, Berlin, Germany
2010
glauben, dass…, Shedhalle Tübingen, Germany
Leben Lieben Leiden, Kunstverein Celle, Germany
Die Tür geht nach Innen auf, Galerie Tanja Wagner, Berlin, Germany
Aka Symbol part two, Hbc, Berlin, Germany
Wrong Love, A Foundation, Liverpool, United Kingdom
I wish myself an exhibition, West Germany, Berlin, Germany
Aka Symbol part one, Forgotten Bar Project, Berlin, Germany
Girloverkill, Bethanien, Berlin, Germany
2009
Zeigen, eine Audiotour, Temporäre Kunsthalle, Berlin, Germany
Access All Areas, Galerie Max Hetzler, Berlin, Germany
Pancake Astronaut, Forgotten Bar Project, Berlin, Germany
2008
Klasse Rebecca Horn, Schloß Liebenberg, Brandenburg, Germany
Meisterschülerausstellung, Universität der Künste Berlin, Germany
2007
Klasse Rebecca Horn, Universität der Künste, Berlin, Germany
Absolventenausstellung, Universität der Künste, Berlin, Germany
2006
Klasse Rebecca Horn, Stiftung Starke, Berlin, Germany
2005
Student show, Chelsea College of Art and Design, London, United Kingdom

Public collections

Museum of Fine Arts Budapest, Hungary (2025)
Kunstforum der TU Darmstadt, Germany (2025)
Museum Kupferstich-Kabinett, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Germany (2024, 2023)
Hans Platschek Stiftung, Hamburg, Germany (2024)
Buch- und Schriftmuseum, Deutsche Nationalbibliothek, Leipzig, Germany (2022)
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Berlin, Germany (2022)
Kupferstichkabinett, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Germany (2021)

Artist talks and performances

2025
Artist talk with Julia Reichelt, Kunstforum der TU Darmstadt, Germany
2024
Artist talk with Dr Stephanie Buck and Meghan McNamee, Kupferstich-Kabinett, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Germany
2019
Performance with James Banner (double bass), Stiftung St. Matthäus, Berlin, Germany
2018
Reading and talk: Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften, Kunstsaele, Berlin, Germany
2017
Performance with Tuomas Usvaala (double bass), Taarasti Art Center, Finland
2016
Artist talk, Kunsthistorisches Institut, Universität Tübingen, Germany
Performance with Daniel Sundy (double bass), Kunstverein Reutlingen, Germany
2015
Workshop and artist talk, Culture Keepers, Prince George’s African American Museum & Cultural Center, Washington, DC, United States
Artist talk with Chanel Compton and Kirsten Weiss, Goethe-Institut, Washington, DC, United States
2013
Performance with Steve Whipple (double bass), S2A, New York, United States
2010
Artist talk, Kunstverein Östliches Sauerland, Brilon, Germany
Performance with Hakeem Holloway (double bass), Kunstverein Celle, Germany

Education

2008
Master class, Rebecca Horn, Universität der Künste Berlin, Germany
2005
Chelsea College of Art and Design, London, studies with Roger Ackling, United Kingdom
2002-2008
Studies of Fine Arts, studies with Rebecca Horn, Universität der Künste Berlin, Germany