VITA
born in Munich
1941
MBA Fontainebleau, return to Germany, work in industry as a manager in the field of public relations.
1968
Studied at the University of Applied Sciences for Design in Pforzheim, painting, drawing, graphic design, and sculpture under professors Peter Jacobi, Michael Sandle, Willi Seidel, Fritz Vahle, and Werner Weißbrodt, among others. She learned batik from Ute Middel, silversmithing from Augenstein, and enameling from Miller.
1972-1974
1974
Moved to New York, trained in goldsmithing and enameling with Robert Kulicke and Jean Reist Stark.
New Mexiko trip, from Denver to Mesa Verde, Navajo Reservation, Hopi Land, Pueblo, Santa Fe.
1978
In doing so, she unknowingly acquired skills that would later become essential to her painting. She continued her studies in various goldsmithing techniques, such as enameling, granulation, and repoussé, with Bruno Martinazzi. For over 20 years, Sylvia Witzenmann maintained a studio in New York's Diamond District, as well as a painting studio in Hell's Kitchen.
1979
Sylvia Witzenmann purchased a small house in East Hampton, where she had been spending her summers since 1983. Here in Springs, on Gerard Drive (where Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning had previously worked), she was fascinated by the coastal landscapes, the water, and the changing light conditions. Soon, in addition to the more mimetic daytime landscapes seen en plein air, she began creating night landscapes in her studio during the night hours. This liberating process led from an impressionistic observation-based reproduction of what she saw to an inner translation into expressive images.
1998
Mexico trip, from Mexico City to Tenochtitlan, Teotihuacán, Xenote, Chichén Itzá, and Tulum.
1994
In addition to the landscape, the human form, always depicted in an immediate and expressive manner, became an important motif in his work. Current events and world politics, as well as universal reflections on human nature, culture, and the natural sciences, found their way into his work.
Since the mid-1990s, Witzenmann has participated in various group and solo exhibitions in Germany, Switzerland, and the USA; notable venues include the Times Square Lobby Gallery in New York City and ars contemplativa in Basel. Solo exhibitions have been held at Galerie Schöner (Königsbach-Stein), Galerie Melnikow (Heidelberg), and Sparkasse Pforzheim (main branch in Pforzheim).
Collections
Witzenmann GmbH, Kulturamt Pforzheim, Arlinger Baugenossenschaft, Art Collection of the City of Pforzheim, Sammlung Grau Guss, Enzkreis, Privatsammlung Paschen, Privatsammlung Roethel, München, Privatsammlung Klot, Wien, Privatsammlung Fischer, Pforzheim
Exhibitions
2001 Soloexhibition, „Sylvia Witzenmann, Bilder 1990 – 2001“, 11.03. – 04.06.2001, Pforzheim Galerie, Pforzheim
2019 Soloexhibition „Sylvia Witzenmann, bald hierhin, bald dorthin“ 26.05. – 29.09.2019, Pforzheim Galerie, Pforzheim
2019 Soloexhibition „Druckwelten“, Arlinger Baugenossenschaft, Pforzheim
2019 Groupexhibition DAS KLEINE FORMAT, Künstlergilde Buslat, Bauschlott
2019 Groupexhibition ART TO GO, Galerie Brötzinger Art, Pforzheim
2019 GroupexhibitionARTOTHEK, ART – ORT – TAT – ORT, Atelier Gabriele Münster, Pforzheim
2020 Kunstpassage Pforzheim, Ausstellung „Why Not“, Kunstraum ART ORT, Pforzheim
2020 Ausstellung „Plastiken – Objekte – Bilder”, with Werner Stütz, ART – ORT – TAT – ORT, Pforzheim
2021 Groupexhibition DAS KLEINE FORMAT, Künstlergilde Buslat
2021 Groupexhibitionan der Aktion ART TO GO, Galerie Brötzinger art
2021 Groupexhibition„13. Ortszeit“, Pforzheim, Neuenbürg, Calw
2021 Soloexhibition„Sylvia Witzenmann – Durchblick Einblick“, Künstlergilde Buslat, Bauschlott
2022 GroupexhibitionART IN TRANSITION, Kunstverein Stuttgart international, Leonberg
2022 GroupexhibitionART IN TRANSITION, Kunstverein Stuttgart international, Stuttgart
2022 Groupexhibition„METAMORPHOSEN“, Orangerie, Schwetzingen
2022 Groupexhibition LOFT art auction, Pforzheim
2022 Groupexhibition„Das Große im Kleinen“, Künstlergilde Buslat, Bauschlott
2022 Groupexhibition, Sendeplätze, Pforzheim Cultural Council, Pforzheim City Library
2022 Red Dot Miami, Kunstverein Stuttgart International
2023 Groupexhibition, Gräfe art Konzept, Berlin
2023 Groupexhibition, Castle Stettenfels
2023 Groupexhibition, „Sagenhaft, Sendeplätze“, Exhibition by the Pforzheim Cultural Council
2023 Soloexhibition, „Uptown - Downtown, New York – Neuenbürg“, Castle Neuenbürg
2023 Soloexhibition, „Mensch und Mythos“, with Stefan Faas, 17.11.-03.12.203, cultural center Gaude Mater Czenstochawa, Polen
2024 art Karlsruhe, Kunstverein Stuttgart International, 22.-25.02.2024
2024 Offene Ateliers Pforzheim, 27. and 28.04.2024, Alter Schlachthof, Pforzheim
2024 Alles fließt, annual exhibition Kunstverein Stuttgart international, 25.05. - 29.07. 2024 Wasserschloss Bad Rappenau
2024 BRICK and HOLE, mit Eckhard Bausch, sehsaal Wien
2025 fünf Elemente, Kulturforum Blaues Haus, 09.06. - 20.06.2025, with Dieter Kränzlein, Stefan Faas, Leo Staigle
2025 Dada bis Dali, Kunstverein Stuttgart International, Orangerie Schloss Schwetzingen, 31.07. – 31.08.2025
2025 Open Studios Pforzheim 2025, Guest at the Studio of Sonja Keppler, 08. und 09.11.2025
Honorary member of the Künstlergilde Buslat since 2023
Member of GEDOK Karlsruhe since 2025