Overview

Michael Müller (b. 1970, Germany) is an artist whose manifold, proliferating oeuvre cannot be ascribed to any one-way interpretation. He continuously broadens the methods of his artistic expression, combining works on paper with painting, text-based work, sculpture, found objects, music, and performance. Müller studied sculpting and fine arts at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf with Magdalena Jetelová. From 2015 to 2018, he was a professor at the Berlin University of the Arts. In 2018, he was nominated for the Kunstpreis der Böttcherstraße, Bremen. Müller lives and works in Berlin.

 

The artistic work by Müller develops out of existing historical narratives, methods and norms: systems which he pushes to their limits by modifying them along fictitious lines. Every boundary – whether it is culturally encoded, materially circumscribed, or rationally established – is a provocation for Müller. The spectrum of his themes spans from literature, language, writing, music, and dance, across mythology and nature, religion and its rituals, across gender identity or clothing, to the operating system of art.

 

Recent solo exhibitions include: "The Given Day. Castor & Polydeuces" (The Städel Museum, Frankfurt, 2022-2023); “Drei biographische Versuche” (3-chapter series) (Galerie du Monde, 2021-2022); “Schwierige Bilder” (Sammlung Wemhöner, Berlin, 2021); “Stripping the Force – The Self and the Other” (Spotlight by Art Basel, Galerie du Monde, 2020); “Anton in a Bast Skirt” (Galerie Thomas Schulte, Berlin, 2020); “An Exhibition as a Copy” ( Galerie du Monde, 2018); “Stripping the Force” (Kunsthalle Bremen, 2018); “SKITS. 13 Exhibitions in 9 Rooms” (Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden, 2016); “Who’s Speaking?” (KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2015). Müller’s works belong to many prominent museum collections including the Kunstmuseum Bonn, Germany; Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, United States; among others.

Works
  • Michael Müller, "7" Liparische Inseln, 2017-2018
    "7" Liparische Inseln, 2017-2018
  • Michael Müller, "Vupa, Vulcano and Vulva" and "Kunst als Erfindung", 2018
    "Vupa, Vulcano and Vulva" and "Kunst als Erfindung", 2018
  • Michael Müller, Challenger Deep, 2020
    Challenger Deep, 2020
  • Michael Müller, Die Buchstaben der Psyche, 2017-2018
    Die Buchstaben der Psyche, 2017-2018
  • Michael Müller, Die Rückseite eines Hauses, 2017
    Die Rückseite eines Hauses, 2017
  • Michael Müller, Die Scham des feuchten Lakens Übertragung (2. Potenz) Nr. 3 (u.V.v. Motivbild Nr. 8 (Hendrick)), 2021
    Die Scham des feuchten Lakens Übertragung (2. Potenz) Nr. 3 (u.V.v. Motivbild Nr. 8 (Hendrick)), 2021
  • Michael Müller, Doppelportrait Meister Kuakudili, 2018
    Doppelportrait Meister Kuakudili, 2018
  • Michael Müller, GUAM, 2022-2023
    GUAM, 2022-2023
  • Michael Müller, Hades Mercato (DAS ENTSTEHEN UNFERTIGER BEGRIFFE), 2020
    Hades Mercato (DAS ENTSTEHEN UNFERTIGER BEGRIFFE), 2020
  • Michael Müller, Hoover Generation Future Smart Pure White and Luxor Black, Smokey Grey Transparent, 2017-2018
    Hoover Generation Future Smart Pure White and Luxor Black, Smokey Grey Transparent, 2017-2018
  • Michael Müller, Ilkley Moor, 2019-2020
    Ilkley Moor, 2019-2020
  • Michael Müller, Isla Hermite (Biography of a Coral Garden), 2019
    Isla Hermite (Biography of a Coral Garden), 2019
  • Michael Müller, KURK, 2021
    KURK, 2021
  • Michael Müller, Lalibela, 2021
    Lalibela, 2021
  • Michael Müller, Left and Right Hand, 2020
    Left and Right Hand, 2020
  • Michael Müller, Mach dich selbst (Do It Yourself), 2015
    Mach dich selbst (Do It Yourself), 2015
  • Michael Müller, Meditation Nr. 89, 2020
    Meditation Nr. 89, 2020
  • Michael Müller, Mr. James at Lake Palace, 2012
    Mr. James at Lake Palace, 2012
  • Michael Müller, MRS. JOSHI CYCLING DOWN BAOBAB AVENUE IN SEARCH OF A LOST MANGO, 2021
    MRS. JOSHI CYCLING DOWN BAOBAB AVENUE IN SEARCH OF A LOST MANGO, 2021
  • Michael Müller, November (verlorener September), 2018
    November (verlorener September), 2018
  • Michael Müller, Nr. 3 & 4, The shoulder on which to bear time, 2019-2020
    Nr. 3 & 4, The shoulder on which to bear time, 2019-2020
  • Michael Müller, PARADOXE MACHTERFAHRUNG (Ungleiches nur gleich), 2020-2021
    PARADOXE MACHTERFAHRUNG (Ungleiches nur gleich), 2020-2021
  • Michael Müller, PLAYING WITH MY ASS, 2020-2021
    PLAYING WITH MY ASS, 2020-2021
  • Michael Müller, Schönheit, (Kaputte Begriffe), 2017
    Schönheit, (Kaputte Begriffe), 2017
  • Michael Müller, Sonnenwagen (Encounter), 2021
    Sonnenwagen (Encounter), 2021
  • Michael Müller, Spiegelwächter, 2013
    Spiegelwächter, 2013
  • Michael Müller, STELLA POLYPUS (A Movement from Abstraction into Phantasm) MMXX, 2020
    STELLA POLYPUS (A Movement from Abstraction into Phantasm) MMXX, 2020
  • Michael Müller, The Collapse of Beauty, 2019
    The Collapse of Beauty, 2019
  • Michael Müller, राग केदार, Raga Kedar, Early Night 9-12, 2017
    राग केदार, Raga Kedar, Early Night 9-12, 2017
  • Michael Müller, → ↔ ← Zeitpfeile, hänge ich am Haken?, 2022
    → ↔ ← Zeitpfeile, hänge ich am Haken?, 2022
Exhibitions
News
Publications