Alexandra Bircken (1967) is a German artist based in Berlin and Munich. Bircken creates assemblages featuring everyday ephemera like wood, knitted fragments and twigs. Her work has strong references to traditional craft practices and to the natural world, from which she sources her materials.

Early life and education Bircken was born in Cologne, Germany. She was brought up nearby in Remscheid. Her father was a motor engineer, but later worked for the weapons firm Mauser and Heckler & Koch. Bircken, who was part of Germany's peace movement, disliked this intensely and felt ashamed of her father.

In secondary school, aged 15, Bircken became friends with Lutz Huelle and Wolfgang Tillmans.Heike Blümner (26 April 2015), Out of Remscheid Die Welt. In 1992, Tillmans, who was studying photography at Bournemouth, used Bircken and Huelle in a fashion shoot called Like Brother and Sister published in i-D Magazine.

As a child, she wanted to become a surgeon, as she had issues with her intestines which made her interested in the body.

In 1991, Bircken moved to London to study for a BA in Fashion Design from Central Saint Martins, graduating in 1995. Whilst there, she lived in Brixton.

After graduating, Bircken founded a fashion label with a colleague, but quickly became frustrated with the restrictions of the fashion industry.

Career

Bircken's work explores the body, textiles, mechanics and feminism.

From 2000-2008, Bircken taught at Central Saint Martins. Since 2018, she has been a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich.

Bircken has been awarded artist residencies at Kölnischer Kunstverein in Cologne (2004), Studio Voltaire in London (2011) and the British Council in Harare, Zimbabwe (2014).

Exhibitions Bircken's work has been exhibited at Museum Abteiberg (Mönchengladbach), Kunstverein Hannover, New Museum (New York), National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam), the Hepworth Wakefield (Yorkshire), and Whitechapel Gallery (London). In 2019, her work was included in the group exhibition, May You Live In Interesting Times, curated by Ralph Rugoff and presented at the 58th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia in Italy.

Solo exhibitions Date Exhibition Place2019UnruheSecession, Vienna, AT2018MammalStudio Voltaire, London, UK2017StretchMuseum Abteiberg, Mönchengladbach, DE2017StretchCrédac, Ivry-sur-Seine, FR2017PingBQ, Berlin, DE2016ParallelgesellschaftenK21 Ständehaus, Düsseldorf, DE2016StretchKunstverein Hannover, Hannover, DE2016NeedleHerald St, London, UK2015CageyPiece*Unique, Cologne, DE2014Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam, NL2014EskalationThe Hepworth Wakefield, Wakefield, UK2014B.U.F.F.BQ, Berlin, DE2013Inside outBQ, Berlin, DE2012Herald St, London, UK2012HausratKunstverein Hamburg, Hamburg, DE2012Ganzjährige Präsentation im FoyerBonner Kunstverein, Bonn, DE2011Studio Voltaire, London, UK2011Think of meKimmerich, New York, US2010BlondieKölnischer Kunstverein, Cologne, DE2010STORNOBQ, Los Angeles, US2009CrossingsHerald St, London, UK2009Alles muß raus!BQ, Berlin, DE2008Ursula Blickle StiftungKraichtal-Unteröwisheim, DE2008Open SpaceBQ, Art Koln 08, Cologne, DE2008UnitsDocking Station, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, NL2007HolzGladstone Gallery, New York, US2007StatementsHerald St, Art Basel 37, Basel, CH2007HolzGladstone Gallery, New York, US2006BQ, Cologne, DE (cat)2005Herald St, London, UK2004BQ, Cologne, DE (cat)

Group exhibitions Date Exhibition Place2019May You Live In Interesting Times58th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, Venice, IT 2019Herald St, Museum St, London, UK2019Tainted Love (club edit)Villa Arson, Nice, FR2019Sick and DesiringHordaland Kunstsenter, Bergen, NL2018NakedMuseum Kranenburgh, Bergen, NL2018The Revolutionary Suicide Mechanised Regiment Band, Part 2Rob Tufnell, London, UK2018ISelf Collection: Bumped BodiesWhitechapel Gallery, London, UK2018Alexandra Bircken, Josh Brand, Matthew Darbyshire, Michael Dean, Cary Kwok, Amalia Pica, Nicole WermersHerald St, Museum St, London, UK2017The problem with having a body / is that it always needs to be somewhereThe Approach Gallery, London, UK2016TrolleyGlasgow International, Tramway, Glasgow, UK2015Mapping Bucharest: Art, Memory and Revolution 1916–2016MAK – Austrian Museum of Contemporary Art, Vienna, AT2015Markus Amm, Alexandra Bircken, Michael DeanHerald St – Golden Sq, London, UK2015War GamesMarlborough Chelsea, New York, US2015Wo ist hier? #2: Raum und Gegenwart, Bildhauerei und Installation seit 2000Kunstverein Reutlingen, Reutlingen, DE2015Rates of ExchangeMuseum of Contemporary Art, Zagreb, HR2015Basket Case IINational Gallery, Bulawayo, ZW2014Basket Case IINational Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare, ZW2014Blicke! Koerper! Sensationen!Deutsches Hygiene Museum, Dresden, DE2014Ökonomie der AufmerksamkeitKunsthalle Wien, Vienna, AT2014The Great OutdoorsSchaufenster, Berlin, DE2014Humain non humainFondation d’entreprise Ricard, Paris, FR2014Die Antwort der DingeLothringer 13, Munich, DE2014Fiber in FormInstitute of Contemporary Art, Boston, US2013The Love of ThingsKunsthalle Münster, Münster, DE2013Days in Lieu, curated by Rodolphe von HofmannsthalDavid Zwirner, London, UK2013Nur hier – Sammlung zeitgenössischer Kunst der Bundesrepublik Deutschland / Ankäufe von 2007 – 2011Bundeskunsthalle, Bonn, DE2012A Disagreeable ObjectSculptureCenter, New York, US2012Everyday Abstract – Abstract EverydayJames Cohan Gallery, New York, US2012NeuralgieKunstraum Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, DE2012Made in Germany ZweiInternational Art in Germany, Sprengel Museum, Hannover, DE2011My Beautiful Mongo Thomas Brambilla, Bergamo, IT2011Skulpturales HandelnHaus der Kunst, Munich, DE (cat)2011EX3 Centro per l'Arte Contemporanea, Florence, IT2011Mailles. Art en laineMaison du Danemark, Paris, FR2011Arthur Bokskamp-StiftungHohenlockstedt, DE2011Gesamtkunstwerk: New Art From GermanySaatchi Gallery, London, UK2011Wash, then danceTinderbox, Hamburg, DE2011H x W x DWentrup, Berlin, DE2010Every Night, I go to SleepModern Art, London, UK2010UndoneHenry Moore Institute, Leeds, UK2010Rive Droite / Rive GaucheParis, FR (cat)2010Feint ArtKunstverein Freiburg, Freiburg, DE2010Same slight SlighterRenwick Gallery, New York, US2010The Long Dark, curated by Michelle CottonKettle’s Yard, Cambridge, UK2010Museum Kunst Palast, Düsseldorf, DE2010Kimmerich Gallery, New York, US2010Neues Rheinland. Eine postironische GenerationMuseum Morsbroich, Leverkusen, DE2010Folklore?CRAC Alsace, Altkirch, FR2009Your Gold Teeth II, curated by Todd LevinMarianne Boesky, New York, US2009Arrival InsideMary Mary, Glasgow, UK2009The Long Dark, curated by Michelle CottonThe International 3, Manchester, UK2008BordersMuseum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, NL2008Hooking Up, curated by Klaus KertessView 14, Mary Boone, New York, US2008Martian Museum of terrestrial Art, curated by Francesco ManacordaBarbican Art Gallery, London, UK2008Paradies und zurückZeitgenössische Kunst im Schloss Dyck, Jüchen, DE2008Anti-Baby PillAktualisierungraum, Hamburg, DE2008Vom Gehen in viele Richtungen701 e.V. zu Gast im KIT - Kunst im Tunnel, Düsseldorf, DE20081st Brussels Biennial, Brussels, BE

References

External links Official website