Biography

Biography/General: Claudia Terstappen studied sculpture at the Art Academie Düsseldorf, Germany. She lived and worked in Düsseldorf, London, Barcelona and New York before moving to Australia/Melbourne in 2004.
Her work focuses on the way science, belief and myth explain the world around us, challenging strict divisions between reason and imagination, faith and superstition, civilisation and savagery.
Through lens-based media and sculpture she inquires, but also compels a broader and richer imagination of making sense of cultural patterns and human interventions that shape the diversity and continuity of life.
Since living in Australia her work has shifted towards the human impact on the environment. This has urged her to explore extreme weather conditions, the destruction of animal habitat and weed infestations that threaten the Australian flora and fauna.
Claudia Terstappen's work is held in collections in Australia, Japan, Spain, Germany, France and the US.


1979-81 Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, German Study of German Literature and Philosophy
1980-87 Staatliche Kunstakademie Düsseldorf Sculpture with Architecture - Qualification: MA
1988 Visiting Lecturer at Gesamthochschule Wuppertal, Bergische Universität, Germany
1988 Moved to London
1991-94 Lecturer at The Slade School of Fine Art, London (Mixed Media 1991-92 and Sculpture 1991-94) Lecturer at Winchester School of Art (Fine Art 1993-94). Visiting Lecturer a Goldsmith College, London, Kent Institute of Art and Design, Canterbury (1991-93) Chelsea School of Art, London. Schule für Gestaltung, Zürich, Switzerland The Slade School of Fine Art - Summer School (1993-94). Hochschule für Architektur und Bauwesen, Universität Weimar, Fakultät Gestaltung, Germany Hochschule für Bildende Künste, Hamburg, Germany. Fachhochschule Dortmund, Germany.Lecturer at the Berliner Sommerakademie, Berlin, Germany 1994 Moved to Barcelona 1994
1994-98 Visiting Lecturer at:
The Slade School of Fine Art, London
State University of New York, USA
University of Maryland, USA
Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, USA
2000-03 Lecturer at Europäische Akademie Trier, Germany
1999-00 Visiting Lecturer at:
The Slade School of Fine Art, London
Royal College of Art, London
University, Ruskin School of Art
2003 Visiting Lecturer at:
Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.
Bergische Universität Bonn, Germany
Charles Darwin University, NT, Australia (at 24H Art Gallery)
2003 Directora del Máster Europeu de Belles Arts a Barcelona, Southampton University / Winchester School of Art
2003-5 External Examiner at The Slade School of Fine Art (Media Department)
2004 Moved to Melbourne
2004 - 2014 Professor of Fine Arts at Monash University Faculty of Art Design & Architecture (MADA), Melbourne, Australia
2010-12 Head of Fine Art, MADA, Monash University
2012 A/Dean External Affairs
2015/16 Fellowship, Baptist University Hong Kong
2016-19 Adjunct Professor, United International College, Zhuhai/China

Exhibitions: Solo Exhibitions:

2023 Boutwell Schabrowsky Gallery, Munich/Germany
2022-23 Museum DKM, Duisburg/Germany
2022 Dominik Mersch Gallery, Sydney/Australia
2021 Galeria Siboney, Santander/Spain
2020 Susan Boutwell Gallery, Munich/Germany
2019 Dominik Mersch Gallery, Sydney
2018 Galeria Palma Dotze, Barcelona, Spain
2017 MAMA – Murray Art Museum, Albury
2016 Warrnambool Art Gallery, "Culture Spirit Identity"
2016 VAC – La Trobe University Visual Art Centre, Bendigo LUMA – La Trobe University Museum of Art, Melbourne
2014 Galeria PalmaDotze, Barcelona, Spain
2013 Monash Gallery of Art (retrospective), Melbourne Conny Dietzschold Gallery, Sydney
2011-12 Museum DKM, Duisburg (retrospective), Germany
2011 Galeria Palma Dotze, Barcelona, Spain
2010 Conny Dietzschold Gallery, Sydney Galerie Caren Jones, Cologne Place Gallery, Melbourne
2009 Conny Dietzschold Gallery, Sydney Galeria Palma Dotze, Barcelona, Spain
2008 Place Gallery, Melbourne Galerie Caren Jones, Cologne, Germany
2007 Conny Dietzschold Gallery, Sydney Galerie im Körnerpark, Berlin
2006 Sala H, Vic (Barcelona) Galeria Palma Dotze, Barcelona, Spain CCC B, Centre Cultural Contemporani de Barcelona
2005 Galeria Forum, Tarragona Faculty Gallery, Monash University, Melbourne Iglesia de la Universidad, Santiago de Compostela, Spain Metrònom, Fundació Rafael Tous, Barcelona
2004 Galeria Palma Dotze, Barcelona, Spain CDU Gallery, Darwin, Australia Gallery Fleur, Kyoto, Japan
2003 NT Centre for Contemporary Art, Darwin, Australia Galeria Kowasa, Barcelona
2002 Städtische Galerie Im Rathauspark, Gladbeck, Germany Galeria Spectrum, Zaragoza, Spain Galerie Hellebrand, Duisburg, German Stiftung DKM, Duisburg, Germany Galeria garage regium, Madrid
2000 El Metronom, Fundación Rafael Tous, Barcelona
1999 Galerie Karl Plotzke, Düsseldorf Goethe Institut London Galeria Palma Dotze, Barcelona, Spain
1998 Centre Culturel, Riberac France Galeria panorama, Barcelona
1997 Gallery, State University, New York
96 Grand Street, New York
Centre Culturel, France
Open Studios, Barcelona
1996 Raum 1, Düsseldorf
96 Grand St., New York
1995 ´Panorama´, Barcelona
1994 Raum 1, Düsseldorf
Kunstraum Wuppertal, Germany
Galerie 102, Düsseldorf
`Cinco Orejas Escuchando...` Installation-project, Huelva, Spain
Fundacion Municipal de Cultura, Huelva, Spain
1993 Museumsgalerie Gotha, Germany
Galerie H. Reckermann, Cologne
1992 The Slade Gallery, London
Förderkoje (prize-exhibition) with Galerie H. Reckermann,
Artfair Cologne
1989 Skulpturenmuseum Glaskasten Marl, Germany Bielefelder Kunstverein, Museum Waldhof, Germany Museum Abtei Liesborn, Wadersloh, Germany Galerie H. Reckermann, Cologne
1988 Emmericher Kunstverein, Haus im Park, Germany
1987 Galerie Tropeninstitut, Düsseldorf
Galerie Monochrom, Aachen, Germany
Raum 1, Düsseldorf
1986 Franzen Zollhaus, Düsseldorf, Germany
1985 Galerie Linie, Moers, Germany

Group Exhibitions:

2019 Dominik Mersch Gallery, Sydney
Tinning Street Gallery, Melbourne; London Print Studios, GB
2018 Museum DKM, Duisburg, Germany
2016-17 Galeria Palma Dotze, Barcelona, Spain Mornington Peninsular Regional Gallery
2015 Galeria Palma Dotze, Barcelona, Spain
2014 Kumu Art Museum, 16th Tallin Print Triennal, Estonia. Museum Ostwall, Dortmund Zona Maco, Contemporary Art Fair, Mexico City
Bowness Prize PhotographyExhibition, MGA Melbourne Strange Neighbor, Melbourne
2013 Galeria Palma Dotze, Barcelona, Spain
2011 Maroonda Art Gallery, Melbourne, Australia Plimsol Gallery, Hobart, Australia
2010 Tarra Warra Museum, Melbourne 36th Alice Prize exhibition, Alice Springs, Australia Josephine Ulrick& Win Schubert Photography Award Exhibition, Cowra Regional Art Gallery, Australia Galeria Palma Dotze, Barcelona, Spain
2009 Conny Dietzschold Gallery, Sydney (Langue Froid, curated by Conny Dietzschold and Bill Wright) Darmstädter Tage der Fotografie, Designhaus, Darmstadt Albury Art Prize exhibition, Australia Gallery Caren Jones, Cologne Melbourne Convention Centre, Australia Museum DKM, Duisburg, Germany Conny Dietzschold Gallery, Sydney Cubus Kunsthalle, Duisburg, Germany Mornington Peninsular Regional Art Gallery, Australia La Trobe University Bendigo, Australia Flinders University Art Museum, Australia Städtische Galerie Lüdenscheid, Germany
2008 Natural History Museum, Berlin, Germany Macquarie University, Sydney
2007 Loop, Video Art Festival,Barcelona, Spain CCCB, Centro Contemporaneo Cultural de Barcelona, Spain Musee des Confluences/Departement du Rhone, Lyon, France Jones & Truebenbach Gallery, Cologne, Germany
2006 St Patricks Cathedral, Melbourne
2005 World Financial Center Gallery, N.Y.C., USA Womans Museum Dallas, Texas, USA Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans, USA Simmons College, Boston, USA Louvre, Paris
2004 Tallinn Art Hall, Estonia Akureyri Museum, Iceland Gerduburg Cultural Centre, Rejkavik Cultural Centre, City of Athens, Greece Museum Schloß Morsbroich Leverkusen, Germany Museum Doko, Cologne, Germany
2002 Mobile Museum, Alabama, USA Alexandria Museum, USA La Lonja, Galeria Spectrum Sotos, Zaragoza T20, Murcia, Spain Sendai, Japan
2001 Sala d´exposicions, International University Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain Museo La Verreina, Barcelona University of Maryland Gallery, USA Tuscon Museum, Arizona, USA Brenau University, Georgia, USA Torano Notte e Giorno, Torano/Carara, Italy
2000 Museum Bochum, Germany White Colums, New York City Arts Festival Penedès, Spain Flint Institute, Michigan, USA Delta Axis, USA
1999 Museum Doko, Köln Kunsthalle der Europäischen Akademie Trier
1998 Triennale of Sculpture, Osaka, Japan Kunsthalle der Europäischen Akademie Trier “Construint el Paisatge”Primavera Fotografica, Barcelona Tallers Oberts, Barcelona Museum Doko, Cologne
1997 `Se Alquila´, Barcelona Tallers Oberts, Barcelona “The Things that we do”, Barcelona
1996 “Letzter Aufguß”, Düsseldorf
1995 Galeria de Arte del Colegio de Arquitectos en Malaga, Spain East International´, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich Galeria Cavecanem, Sevilla, Spain
1994 Howard Garden Gallery, Cardiff, Britain Flaxman Gallery, Stoke on Trent, Britain University of Humberside, Hull, Britain The Slade Gallery, London Deutsches Klingenmuseum Solingen, Germany Bergische Kunstausstellung, Germany Galerie Gaby Kraushaar, Düsseldorf
1992 ´East´, Norwich Gallery, Britain (with catalogue ´Globe´, Düsseldorf Colchester and District Visual Arts Trust, Britain
1991 Goethe Institute, London Malania Basarab Gallery, London Glück Auf, exhibition-project, colepit, Moers, Germany
1990 ´Kunstware´, Wuppertal, Germany Galerie Carol Johnssen, Munich, Germany
1986 Märkisches Stipendium für Bildende Kunst
1987 Lüdenscheid, Germany (with catalogue)
1985 Galerie Suspect, Amsterdam, Holland
1984 ´Kumma wat dat da dampft´, Düsseldorf
1983 ´Draussen´(Óutside´), Nordpark Düsseldorf
1982 Kunstmuseum Düsseldorf

Collections/Commissions: Museum of Fine Art Houston, Texas USA
Osaka Prefectual Government, Japan
Collection of Seika University, Kyoto, Japan
Museum DKM, Germany
Collection Grothe, Germany
Collection Heiting, Germany
Collection Schneckenburger, Germany
Kunstverein Hasselbach E.V., Germany
Art Bank, Cologne, Germany
Max-Planck-Institute, Berlin, Germany
Fundación Coca Cola, Spain
Colección OlorVisual, Spain
Colección Rafael Tous de Arte Contemporáneo, Spain
Colección Spectrum Sotos, Spain
Museum La Coruña, Spain
Warrnambool Art Gallery, Australia
Monash University Library Collection, Melbourne, Australia
Private Collections in Germany, Spain, UK, USA and Austalien
Awards/Grants: 2015 Fellowship (5 months), Hong Kong Baptist University
2011 Finalist for the Bowness Photography Prize, Monash Gallery of Art, Melbourne
2009 Finalist for the Albury Art Prize Finalist for the 36th Alice Prizeinalist fort the Josephine Ulrick& Win Schubert Photography Award
2005 Finalist for the BMW Photo-Prize, Louvre, Paris
2004 Artist in Residence, Charles Darwin University, Darwin
2001 Artist in Residence, Fundación Valparaiso,Valparaiso Spain Grant and Research Leave Award from the Arts and Humanities Research Board, London
1999 Grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Board, London Award from Kunstfond Bonn, Germany Grant for a project by: Staatskanzelei Düsseldorf, Germany Stiftung Kunst und Kultur des Landes NRW, Düsseldorf, Germany
1998 Bronze Prize of the Triennale for Sculpture in Osaka, Japan
1996 Artist in Residence, Direction régionale des affaires culturelles, France
1993 Projektförderung der Stiftung Kunst und Kultur des Landes NRW (support for a project) for Spain in 1994
1990 Ida Gerhardi Prize, Germany DAAD Scholarship for Britain (one year, London)
1989 Förderpreis des Landschaftsverbandes Westfalen-Lippe, Westfälisches Museumsamt Münster
1984 Award for open-air sculpture, Landesgartenschau Hamm, Germany

Bibliography: Die Schwarze Seite - Museum DKM, Duisburg, Wienand Verlag Köln, Germany 2018, ISBN 978-3-86832-474
Claudia Terstappen - Culture Spirit Identity, Warrnambool Art Gallery, 2016 ISBN 978-0-9942226-6-4
Claudia Terstappen - A Language of the Vanishing , La Trobe University Museum of Art, Melbourne 2016, ISBN 9781921915918
Claudia Terstappen - In the shadow of change, Monash Gallery of Art, Melbourne 2013, ISBN 978-1-876764-21-0
Claudia Terstappen - Tanz, Tod und Beschwörung (Ritual, death and incantation), Museum DKM, Duisburg, Germany 2012, ISBN 978-3-942650-04-5
Flynn, Paul, Claudia Terstappen in Artists Profile“, issue15, 2011 page 88-92
‚Darmstaedter Tage der Fotografie: Vision – Aussicht aufs Leben’; Darmstadt, Germany, ISBN 978-3-9810254-8-4, p 96 – 101
‘Linien Stiller Schönheit, aus der Sammlung DKM_Band 1’, Museum/Stiftung DKM, Duisburg, Germany 2008, S. 228-231, ISBN 3-981500-0-2
Marsh, Anne, A Language of the Sacred, Claudia Terstappen, in: eyeline no 59, summer 2005-2006, Australia, ISBN 08188734
Claudia Terstappen - Places of worship , Monash University, Melbourne 2005,
ISBN 0-9756060-9-3
Bufill, Joan , Lugares Sagrados, Claudia Terstappen, Kowasa Gallery Barcelona, in: “La Vuanguardia” 14.1.2004/ Cultura No 82 (review)
Ooms, Anne, Heilige Orte - Sacred Places, Claudia Terstappen, NT Centre for Contemporary Art, Darwin, 9 - 31.5.03, review in: “Photofile”, August 2003
ARCO 03, Feria internacional de arte, ARCO / IFEMA, Feria de Madrid, Spain 2002, S. 329
Fragmentos, Propuesta para una Colección de Fotografia Contemporánea, Colección Rafael Tous de Arte Contemporáneo. Diputación Provincial de Malaga, Spain 2002, ISBN84-7785-493-9
Claudia Terstappen - Sacred places, Düsseldorf, Germany2002, ISBN 3-9807575-4-4
Fragments”, Proposta per a una Col. lecció de Fotografia Contemporania, Col.lecció Rafael Tous d’ Art Contemporani , Museu de la Universitat d’ Alacant (MUA), 8.11.2002 - 23.2.2002. Universitat d’Alacant, Museu Universitat d’Alacant, Spain 2002, ISBN 84-931911-7-5
Mirar el mundo otra vez , Galeria Spectrum Sotos, Ajuntamiento de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain 2002
Welche Landschaft wollen wir ? , Hildegard Kurt und Erwin Wortelkamp, Kunstverein Hasselbach, Germany 2002, ISBN 3-89279-580-0
ARCO 01, Feria internacional de arte, ARCO / IFEMA, Feria de Madrid 2002, S 310-311
ARCO 02, Feria internacional de arte, ARCO / IFEMA, Feria de Madrid 2002 , S. 330-331
Fragmentos - Collección Rafael Tous, 3.5. - 28.6.01, Centro Cultural “Casa del Cordón”, Caja de Burgos, Spain 2001, ISBN 84-87152-67-8
Huesca Imagen 5.7. - 31.7.01, Diputación de Huesca e Ibercaja, ISBN 84-95005-16-6
East 2001, Norwich Gallery, Norwich School of Art and Design, Great Britain 2001, ISBN 1-872482-54-6
Potlatch, Galeria Palma Dotze, Barcelona , Spain 2001
BT 9, Monthly Art Magazine, Bijutsu Techo, Vol. 53, No 810, September 2001, Barcelona Art Report, S. 74, Spain 2001
Woman of the World - A Global Collection of Art, curated by Claudia DeMonte, herausgegeben von Pomegranate California 2000, ISBN 0-7649-1334-4
Zen und die westliche Kunst , Museum Bochum 25.5 - 20.8.2000, Bochum, Wienand Verlag, Germany 2000, ISBN 3-8093-0219-8
Kunstforum, Edition 152, Oktober - Dezember 2000, S. 348/349 Claudia Posca - “Zen und die westliche Kunst”, Museum Bochum 25.6. - 20.8.2000, Germany
Claudia Terstappen - Geister am Jucurucu, Schuffelen Verlag, Cologne, Germany 2000, ISBN 3-929769-66-2
Sculpture, Painting, Print - Osaka Triennale, International Contemporary Art Competition, Document 1990 – 1998, Osaka Prefectual Government / Osaka Foundation of Culture, Osaka, Japan 2000
Im Tal , Jörg und Karen van den Berg für den Lehrstuhl für Kunstwissenschaft, Ästhetik und Kunstvermittlung der Universität Witte/Herdecke und für den Kunstverein Hasselbach, Duisburg, Berlin, Germany pict.im, 1999, ISBN 3 - 932256-04-2
Osaka Triennale 1998 - Sculpture , 9th International Contemporary Art Competition 1998, Osaka Prefectual Government and Osaka Foundation of Culture, Osaka, Japan 1998
Claudia Terstappen - Je crois aux miracles, Riberac 1997, published by ADDC e Centre Culturel de Riberac, France1998
Foreign affairs, Europäische Akademie für Bildende Kunst, Trier, Germany 1998
Van der Most, Jan , ‘Pablo’ (Mexico) aus der Serie “Schicksale” seit 1995 ’, ‘ lose Folge # 8, Claudia Terstappen,, Postkartenausgabe, Düsseldorf 1998
Letzter Aufguß, Kulturamt, Düsseldorf 1996
East International, Norwich Gallery and Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Great Britain, 1995, ISBN 1 872482 16 3
Flächenbezogene Kunst, 48. Bergische Kunstausstellung, Städtische Galerie Deutsches Klingenmuseum, Solingen, Germany 1994
Berliner Sommerakademie, Bildende Künste 1994´, Berlin, Germany 1994
East International, Norwich Gallery, Great Britain1993, ISBN 1872482 09 0
Terstappen, C. - et.al. in: ´Quer-Beet´, Charly & Annekathrin Hüskes, Krefeld, Germany 1992
Glück Auf, München, Popa Verlag, Germany 1992, ISBN 3-925818-92-8
Terstappen, C. - in: Brandmeier, M. & Terstappen, C., Studio Galerie, Westfälisches Museumsamt, Münster, Germany 1990
Claudia Terstappen - ´Power is only dangerous if it´s in the wrong hands´, Concept Verlag, Düsseldorf, Germany 1989, ISBN 3-92122421-8
Arghir, Anca, Transparenz als Werkstoff, Wiegand-Verlag, Cologne 1988, Germany, ISBN 3-87909-180-3
Claudia Terstappen - ´Der Versuch einen Pharao zu restaurieren´, Düsseldorf, Germany 1987