Susanne Kamps

b. 1967, Munster, Germany.

“The paintings of Susanne Kamps are chromatic organisms, entirely of their own kind. On the one hand, they assert their obligation to tradition, on the other hand they celebrate individuality and boundless independence, as if they never heard of the great role models, they evoke…” - wrote one art critic, adding: “And the beholder, the more he or she tries to grasp the tension, experiences deja-vu - the ´aha´ effect. Who would not, while looking at the painting of Susanne Kamps, think of Matisse…” - and indeed, her painting Behind the screen, shortlisted for the 5th Edition of the Young Master Prize, pays homage to Matisse´s Intérieur aux aubergines (1911).

Here is the story of Susanne Kamps's tea paintings, as told by the artist: "I have several tea paintings. Fortnum & Mason is one of two twins born from an earlier still life called Smokey Earl Grey: this is the name of a tea flavour sold by Fortnum's which I love. Smokey Earl Grey is a table setting with a lot of grey walls in the background – made with some metal paint rollers I found in a flea market in Budapest (that’s another story). However, it is big, and many people do not want to buy big pieces. So, I focused on what was on the table – the cake stands, tea pots and cups – and the twins were born – Fortnum& Mason being the things on the left side of the table and the things on the right I called High Tea. All these paintings were done in 2017".

Susanne Kamps studied under the late Prof Herman-Josef Kuhna at the Academy of Art in Munster, Germany she also studied in London at Chelsea College of Arts where she mastered her portraiture techniques.

She works in Dusseldorf and has also worked in France during several extended stays in Paris (Cite des Arts) and at Roquebrune on the Cote d´Azur. She has also worked in Israel at the Ein Hod artists’ village.

Notable solo exhibitions include: “Let’s Travel More”, Galerie Hovestadt, Nottuln by Munster Germany (2023), “Under the Rooftops of Paris”, Kaktus Art Forum, Luedinghausen Castle (2022), and at Galerie Niepel bei Morawitz (2019).

Kamps notable group exhibition include: “Group exhibition of Artists” sponsored by CultureWithoutBorders, Nepal Academy of Fine Art, Kathmandu, Nepal (2023), “Dot, Dot, Dash ...,” Dusseldorf Artists' Association, Düsseldorf (2022), “A Belles Dents,” BienvenueArt, Paris, “Summer Show”, Cynthia Corbett Gallery, London (2023), “Focus on the Female,” London Art Fair, Cynthia Corbett Gallery (2022), “Pret a Montrer,” BienvenueArt, Paris (2022), “Fine Mix,” Mettmann Art House, Mettmann, Germany (2022).

In 2021 Kamps was awarded three-month Residence at Cité internationale des Arts in Paris.

Her paintings have been shown in Germany, France and Israel and are in several collections, including the German Re-Insurance Company, WGZ Bank and the Heuking, Kühn law firm.

Susanne Kamps was the recipient of the 2019 Young Masters Art Prize Highly Commended award.

Susanne Kamps is represented internationally by Cynthia Corbett Gallery.