Ralf Odermann…
…is a self-taught painter living and working in Bochum, Germany.
He doesn‘t define himself in a specific style. His art is based on three pillars:
One is more or less traditional portraits of pop cultural icons, mostly musicians.
Then there are abstract portraits and landscape paintings that are defined by a bold use of colour and strong brushstrokes and are actually created during the process of painting.
The last and latest pillar is expressionism, again in both portrait and landscape work.
Ralf Odermann immerses himself in the solitary world of his studio and the canvas, intuitively exploring light and shadow, form and texture, building layers of acrylic paint and charcoal, at best resulting in a visceral portrayal of the urban or human experience.
He has never attended art school and only studied graphic design for a very short while. Another passion has always prevailed: deejaying. In his hometown he’s been well known as a DJ and club owner since the mid eighties.
Of course, like any self-respecting artist he’s already scribbled on everything he could get hold of as a kid. Later, as a young man, he designed quite a few album covers and posters for local bands and record labels and of course he was responsible for all the flyers in the clubs he worked at.
And yet Ralf Odermann’s serious involvement with art began only relatively recently, in 2016, in the form of digital drawings with Apple Pencil or even a finger on iPad. To his own astonishment and delight this lead to several successful exhibitions.
In 2020, during the period of pandemic restrictions, he discovered his new love for acrylic paints, brushes and canvases.
Exhibitions
Juli 2025 Bobiennale – Bochum
September 2024 Anders! Anders? (Geemeinschaftsausstellung) – Kunstbunker Bochum
August 2024 Galerie im Park – Waltrop
August 2024 Showroom-Kunst – Bochum
Juni – August 2024 Le Pop – Berlin
Mai 2024. Face To Face (mit Tom Roter) , Königlich – Bochum
Dezember 2023 klein und original (Geemeinschaftsausstellung), Soldout Gallery – Bochum
Oktober 2023 WOGA – Wuppertal
September 2023 Heads, Schnittpunkt – Herne
Juli 2023 Showroom-Kunst, Bochum
Dezember 2022 Königlich (Geemeinschaftsausstellung) – Bochum
Januar 2922 Köpfe. Showroom-Kunst – Bochum
Juli 2021Headz. Soldout Gallery – Bochum
Januar 2019 Ego und ich, Gemeinschaftsausstellung, Galerie Aristokrass – Köln
März 2018 Icons, Soldout Gallery – Bochum
(Auswahl)