Rebels

Artistic Background and Education

Jan Stieding is a German painter, installation artist, and stonemason. Born in Bad Langensalza, Germany, he is the son of the sculptor Harald Stieding. His formal artistic training began with the study of stonemasonry before he transitioned to fine arts. He studied at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste in Dresden from 1991 to 1994, later moving to the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. During his time in Düsseldorf, he studied under Hubert Kiecol and eventually became a master student of Jörg Immendorff, serving as his assistant until the year 2000.

Style and Subject Matter

The work of Jan Stieding often draws upon narratives and memories derived from his experiences in the GDR. His paintings, which include large-format works as well as gouache and watercolor series, frequently reference scientific, psychological, literary, and biographical themes. His motifs are often taken from the contemporary media world, serving as the basis for a process-oriented painting style. This technique utilizes diffuse color gradients, irritating spots, accents, and zones of blurriness that drive the imagery toward abstraction.