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Bildschirmfoto 2020-02-15 um 4.20.21 PM.

SPARKS OF PEACE & JOY

Brigitte Thonhauser-Merk, BA MA

"Distilled in over 50 years of art dialogue, I create sub-real compositions, that inspire the observer to rest and recharge."

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"ELEGANT & POETIC"

– WHO IS WHO IN VISUAL ART

After decades of accelerated technical experimentation and refinement, decades of waiting to finally have access to academia to study Art History, and being mentored by renowned artists, her youthful passion for "the line" is back in full bloom.


The artwork shown here combines her cultural heritage of the Viennese art nouveau with her early studies of modern art in Paris of the 1950s. Art critics described her work as "elegant and poetic". What do you see?

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ATELIER TOUR [video]

Neither just realistic, nor just ornamental. Her goal is to spark a dialogue, explore the essence, the fusion, the contrasts. On a mission to bring beauty and divine truth to this world – What is the essential reference? What is the combining element?

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THE WILD BEGINNINGS

OIL CHALK: 1943–1965

Inspired by her cultural heritage of the Viennese art nouveau and early European modernists, she starts at a young age to express her world in oil chalk drawings.
At an art competition hosted at Vienna's prestigious art school, "Akademie am Schillerplatz" in 1962, she is awarded first prize by renowned art educator Prof. Gerda Matejka-Felden. The piece "Stillleben in Ölkreide" was on show at the Vienna Secession which should have been a victorious start into her career in the arts.

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PAUSE FOR EFFECT

1965–1996

Discouraged by her traditional parental home to go to university and pursue a career in the arts,
she full-heartedly dedicates the next 30 years to building a family and a business with her husband.
But her early cultivated passion for the arts shall be revived soon.

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SPRING IS COMING

AQUARELLE: 1996-2009

In 1996, after a 30-year long creative break,
Brigitte embarks on the delayed journey of giving her pent-up artist's soul new space. She fast-tracked the lost decades in technical and stylistic development, encouraged and guided by her valued art mentors, like Prof. Colnago for aquarelle, Mag. Schnetzinger for oil painting, or Prof. Hübler, expert for composition. The self-confidence in her unique lines returns, stroke by stroke.

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IN SEARCH FOR GARDEN EDEN

GARDEN COMPOSITIONS: 1999–2007

Encouraged in composition, it's time to fulfill her life-long dream which she could never afford as a kid, to once paint with real oil painting, like the old masters. Those rich in color visualizations of peace and abundance gave her the drive she needed to enter her next phase –

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ABSTRACT GARDENS: 2005-2007

THE ABSTRACT LEAP

This marks a turning point in Brigitte's artistic evolution towards the bold lines she's known for today. Taking the realistic captures from before and adding the layer of abstract distortion is the gateway to deconstructing and extracting familiar shapes and scenes.

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FANTASTIC
NEW WORLDS

ACRYLIC SINCE 2008

Her life-long dream of showing her art in Paris is coming true with this new style showing fantastic worlds in bold color and shapes. Working with a local gallery for over 15 years now and earning numerous awards is truly a huge milestone in her art career.

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THE LINE, FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

ILLUSTRATIONS SINCE 2010

Processing the passing of her parents unveiled Brigitte a new era of style – embracing black and white, adding bold statement colors, while honoring the eternal flow of the line.

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LATEST ARTWORK

Ready to explore the latest artwork, prints, and products?

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