JAKOB GASTEIGER & AIKO TEZUKA
27th February - 1st May / BARCELONA
Richeldis Fine Art is delighted to present an exhibition featuring the works of Jakob Gasteiger (b. 1953, Salzburg) and Aiko Tezuka 手塚 愛子 (b. 1976, Tokyo), two artists whose practices have significantly shaped contemporary dialogues around process, abstraction, and innovation. This landmark exhibition in Barcelona showcases an impressive body of new works alongside key pieces from their distinguished careers.
Jakob Gasteiger, a pivotal figure in minimalism and analytical painting, is celebrated for his profound engagement with the fundamental elements of painting and sculpture. For this exhibition, Gasteiger unveils a striking new collection of nearly 20 works, exploring a refined palette of pure white, delicate pastel pinks, and vibrant near-neon oranges. These pieces, which have taken a few years to dry and reach their final form, reflect a quiet devotion to the materials and the process—a near-monastic discipline that underpins his practice. Employing his signature technique of applying paint with custom-made comb spatulas made from paper card, Gasteiger creates tactile, relief-like surfaces that dissolve the boundaries between painting and sculpture. This collection embodies his unwavering commitment to minimalism, blending meditative clarity with the expressive possibilities of monochromatic and chromatic variations.
Gasteiger’s work is a meditative exploration of painting’s core principles, stripping away representation to focus entirely on the interplay of material, form, and texture. His canvases, devoid of narrative, stand as self-referential entities that emphasize the rhythm and structure of their own making. This disciplined reduction reveals a profound aesthetic clarity, where simplicity and precision coalesce into compositions of quiet power. Gasteiger’s distinctive vision has established him as a pivotal figure in Austria’s contemporary art scene, earning international acclaim for his enduring innovation in abstraction.
His practice is rooted in a methodical exploration of materiality and technique. His innovative use of spatulas, developed as a deliberate counterpoint to the expressive tendencies of contemporary painting in Austria during the 1980s, has become a defining aspect of his work. By dragging paint meticulously across the canvas, Gasteiger creates rhythmically textured surfaces that transform the act of painting into a physical process. This approach bridges the gap between painting and sculpture, highlighting the nherent tension between the precision of his method and the organic qualities of the material. His work continually challenges the viewer to engage with the subtle interplay of light, texture, and form, expanding the parameters of contemporary abstraction.
Gasteiger’s career includes significant institutional exhibitions such as Post Radical Painting at The Albertina, Vienna (2021), and Works 1985–2015 at the Salzburg Museum. His works are held in major public collections, including The Albertina, Belvedere Museum, Kunstmuseum Bonn, and Museum der Moderne Salzburg.
Aiko Tezuka’s monumental textile works balance profound conceptual weight with striking visual impact. Her innovative approach pushes the boundaries of textile art, deconstructing traditional fabrics to reveal their intricate structures and histories. Through her deconstructive methods, Tezuka not only preserves the historical and cultural significance of textiles but also redefines them, offering new perspectives and engaging audiences in a dialogue about tradition, innovation, and the intricate artistry of fabric creation. Her works evoke reflections on cultural memory, identity, and transformation, engaging viewers both intellectually and emotionally.
For this exhibition, Tezuka combines earlier archival works with a new large-scale installation. Key pieces include Vapour (2013), which exemplifies her meticulous process and engagement with historical textiles. In this work, Tezuka unravels a second-hand cloth, likely from 1920s Germany, revealing its intricate structure and traces of age. This process exposes the layered histories embedded within the material, inviting viewers to reflect on the transient nature of cultural narratives and the resilience of memory.
Another highlight, Dear Oblivion (A Study of Empress Haruko) – 01, delves into cultural shifts and the interplay between Eastern and Western traditions, resonating with both historical depth and contemporary relevance. Her 2025 installation, debuting here, represents a new pinnacle in scale and ambition. With intricate detail and commanding presence, the work envelops the viewer, immersing them in a space where the weight of its conceptual depth meets the sheer visual power of its execution. Her unyielding dedication to fabric as a medium and the meticulous processes of unravelling and reconstruction create works that are simultaneously visually mesmerising and conceptually profound. These pieces invite a dialogue that is both personal and universal, leaving a lasting impression.
Living between Berlin and Tokyo, Tezuka has exhibited internationally, with key institutional shows including Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Japan (2008, 2019), The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (2015–2016), The National Art Center, Tokyo, Japan (2015), Fukuoka Art Museum, Japan (2014, 2019), and Turner Contemporary, Margate, UK (2017). Her works are featured in prominent public collections such as the National Museum of Art in Osaka, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo, and the Textile Museum in Tilburg.
This exhibition unites Gasteiger’s luminous, textured monochromes with Tezuka’s intricate textile transformations, presenting two distinct yet complementary approaches to process and material experimentation. Together, their works invite reflection and offer a compelling exploration of abstraction, history, and innovation.