Bärbel Ricklefs-Bahr

Bärbel Ricklefs-Bahr develops her paintings through an open process of experimentation. She begins without a predetermined image and allows each composition to evolve through successive interventions. Paint is applied, scraped away, dissolved and rebuilt. Sand, marble dust, ash, rust and numerous found materials become part of the surface itself, giving her paintings a remarkable material presence.

The process remains visible in the finished work. Layers overlap, disappear and reappear beneath later applications of paint. Relief alternates with smoother passages, while translucent veils of colour reveal traces of earlier decisions. Every material contributes its own texture, allowing the surface to develop gradually.

Although her paintings remain abstract, they often suggest familiar forms. A face, a shoulder, the edge of a cliff or the outline of a landscape may appear before dissolving again into colour and matter. These associations remain intentionally open and encourage multiple readings.

Colour plays an equally important role. Some paintings rely on restrained tonal harmonies, while others introduce vivid reds, yellows or deep blues. Soft edges replace hard contours and subtle shifts in colour create depth without relying on conventional perspective. Her paintings evoke weathered earth, mineral formations and natural surfaces.

Born in Bremerhaven in 1956, Bärbel Ricklefs-Bahr studied social sciences before dedicating herself to painting in 2005. Since then, she has established several studios and artist-run spaces in Bremerhaven while exhibiting throughout Germany and across Europe. In 2016, she received the Certificate of Excellence at the Palm Art Award. Today, she continues her practice at Arteliers 153, where she combines her own artistic work with exhibitions, workshops and art courses.