Elke Distelrath — Original Paintings
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Paintings for those who stay curious.
Expressive, surreal-symbolic works between figuration and abstraction — for collectors and spaces that want more than decoration.
Expressive, surreal-symbolic works between figuration and abstraction — for collectors and spaces that want more than decoration.
"I believe staying curious like a child is how we keep our souls alive. I make art that helps quiet, deep thinkers trust their own magic — instead of trying to please the world."Elke Distelrath, Artist Statement
My work moves between figuration, symbolism and abstraction. It combines expressive painting with surreal, psychologically charged visual spaces. Animals, beings and fragmented figures appear as carriers of inner tension, playfulness, vulnerability and transformation.
I am not interested in realistic representation, but in revealing inner landscapes: states of curiosity, strangeness, connection, fear, humor and movement. Through gestural lines, layered surfaces and a deliberately emotional use of color, I create a visual world that remains open — to interpretation, projection and resonance.
Each painting is an original, one-off work — shown here at scale in a collector's home. Available on inquiry.
Dimensions listed as Height × Width.
Straight, unstaged photographs of each canvas — for collectors and curators who want to see the work itself. All pieces are one-off originals.
The Soul-Seeking Deep Thinker.
Sensitive, highly intelligent, psychologically minded people — often therapists, writers, creatives or psychologists — who want raw honesty and a space where their inner child can run wild.
If a painting stops you and you can't quite say why, that's usually the reason to reach out.
Inquire About AvailabilityElke Distelrath is a freelance painter based in Viersen, Germany, trained at the Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences. Her work has moved between teaching, textile design and independent studio practice for over three decades.
Full CV, exhibition history and portfolio available on request.
Request CV & Portfolio
Elke Distelrath is a German painter working between figuration, symbol and abstraction. After training in textile and pattern design and more than a decade in art education, she has worked as a full-time studio artist since 2021.
Her paintings are built through layering, gesture and a deliberately emotional color palette — surfaces that stay in motion rather than settle into a single, fixed image.
For inquiries about available paintings, commissions or exhibition opportunities, reach out directly.
A short, guided way to sit with one painting: five minutes, no phone, no judgment — just looking. Free PDF.
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