Oct 22

Oct 22 Artist Spotlight - Brigitte Thonhauser-Merk

Biography

Brigitte Thonhauser-Merk’s work radiates poetic elegance, shimmering with peace, joy, and a celebration of life. Rooted in the rich tradition of Viennese Art Nouveau and shaped by her early studies of modern art in Paris, her compositions fuse vibrant color, harmony, and striking contrasts. Critics have described her art as “elegant and poetic”—a visual dialogue reflecting the divine essence of humanity.

Belle Isle(Hommage to V.Vasarely), 2025. Acrylic on canvas, 90 x 120 cm

Her artistic journey spans more than 50 years and over 120 international exhibitions across four continents, including prominent venues in Vienna, Paris, New York, Shanghai, and Tel Aviv. Represented for 15 years by a Parisian gallery, Brigitte's body of work includes abstract compositions, expressive landscapes, exotic animal scenes, and kinetic forms, exploring cubism, abstraction, and movement.

Seated woman, 2023. Acrylic on canvas, 100 x 80 cm

A creative force from an early age, she won first prize at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna in 1962. After a pause to raise her family, she returned to painting in 1996, mastering aquarelle and oil techniques under renowned mentors. Her stylistic evolution—from early oil chalks to abstract gardens and, later, to fantastical acrylic worlds—embodies a fearless exploration of life and emotion through form and color.

Tivoli, 2021.Acrylic on canvas, 90 x 110cm

Today, Brigitte continues to inspire with her “Artful Lines” series, integrating black-and-white illustration with bursts of expressive color—artworks that evoke both serenity and vitality, inviting viewers into a timeless space of reflection and imagination.