Eva Nüßlein. Dirt under the nails

Eva Nüßlein’s (b. 1991 in Bamberg) paintings tell stories – not in long, complicated sentences, but in snapshots. Her pictures feel like scenes from a dream just before waking: clear enough to be felt intensely, yet open enough to be filled with one’s own impressions. They are often theatrical scenes, interwoven with recurring symbols – stars, tears, shows and skulls. Her visual language is direct and striking.

Nüßlein’s art requires no prior knowledge to be understood. It consists of a few, universally recognisable elements that create an overall image, an atmosphere and a feeling. This accessibility is a stance. The artist comes from a working-class background; her art is not meant to exclude. The world she creates is radically accessible, inviting. Everyone can connect here because emotions are taken seriously. Fear, grief, wonder and anticipation – there is room for all of it.

The world of music, punk and subculture is ever-present in Nüßlein’s art. Many of her titles and motifs are inspired by song lyrics – lyrics that stay with you at night; lines that linger in the memory. The result is painting that is like a good album: emotional, loud and open.

Last edited on 26.03.2026