Statement
Elke Finkenauer (Aotearoa NZ/German) is a visual artist working in drawing, sculpture, print, and text. Through languages of drawing and processes of material improvisation and manipulation she explores spaces between what’s said and unsaid in experiences such as aging, caring, and trying to “make it”. Texture, colour, humour and form convey (often wordless) narratives about incongruities implicit with this.
In Elke’s work, process is as important as outcome. Finished works become a provocation, inviting an assessment of means or end.
Her works have included textile-drawings, miniature bead screens, micro-narratives, and hand-drawn datasets.
Bio
Elke Finkenauer (Aotearoa NZ/German) was born in Auckland, New Zealand. She has a Master of Fine Art from The Glasgow School of Art (2015) and a Postgraduate Diploma from Elam School of Fine Art (2013). Her recent project 'Fragments of a Method'/'BitParts’ (2020–24), is a durational drawing project and analogue dataset, partly funded by Creative Scotland, and developed in parallel with research undertaken with Creative Informatics at the University of Edinburgh. In 2022 she was awarded the Glasgow Visual Artist and Craft Maker Bursary.
CV
Solo Exhibitions
2024
Fragments of a Method | Glasgow Sculpture Studios Project Space
2023
BitParts | online
2019
Knock Knock | Featured Artist at Glasgow Print Studio
2018
Skin Crawl | #24hourwindow, Glasgow
2017
Saturday Safari | Glasgow Project Room
trade | online
2016
Approximately Bacon | The Old Hairdresser's, Glasgow
2015
Going Spare | Lust and the Apple, Midlothian
escape (!) in association with El Refri | Govanhill Baths, Glasgow
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022
Doing Data | Creative Informatics at Inspace, Edinburgh
2021
Heavy Lifting | GOHAF2021
2019
People like you and me, for the publication 'Quality Sleep, Harmony Life!' | Edinburgh Art Festival
Something to Remember | Elke Finkenauer & Alexis Neal at The Suter Gallery, Nelson
Members Club | The Booth at Gus Fisher Gallery, Auckland
2018
Something to Remember | Elke Finkenauer & Alexis Neal at Gus Fisher Gallery, Auckland
2016
The colour of your heart | Studio One Toi Tū, Auckland (curated by Philip Tse)
2014
Aesthetica Art Prize | St Mary's York
2013
Draw a Line Somewhere | Sanderson Contemporary Art Project Window, Auckland
Commissions
2019
What I see from here | Commissioned by Friends of Garnethiill Green Spaces, Glasgow
2016
Transitional Line | Commissioned by Auckland Council, New Zealand
Awards & Competitions
2022
Glasgow Visual Artist and Craft Maker Bursary
Creative Scotland Open Fund for Individuals
2021
Creative Scotland Digital Pivot
2019
Finalist in the Wallace Art Awards, New Zealand
Glasgow Visual Artist and Craft Maker Award
2016
West Dean Tapestry Commission Open Call, Commendation
2015
Finalist in the Wallace Art Awards, New Zealand
2014
Shortlisted for the Aesthetica Art Prize (student)
Residencies
2018
Hospitalfield Summer Residency | Arbroath
Invited Talks & Presentations
2024
Fragments of a Method, a presentation for the symposium ‘Marking Time’ | Thinking through Drawing, UK/USA (upcoming)
Roundtable discussion on Nicole Wermers’ exhibition ‘Day Care’ | The Common Guild, Glasgow
2023
‘Thinking Through Doing: Sustaining Creative Practice’, a discussion with Glasgow Sculpture Studios/Mhairi Sawyer and Sculpture Placement Group/Kate V Robertson | Scotland’s Workshops Week
2022
‘Drawing Lockdown’, a symposium convened by Drawing Projects UK & Drawing is Free, in conjunction with the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize
Education
2015
Master of Fine Art, Glasgow School of Art
Gilbert Bayes Postgraduate Scholarship
2013
Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art, Elam School of Fine Art
Joe Raynes Scholarship for Painting, Drawing or Design
2008-11
Diploma in Art and Craft, Hungry Creek Art and Craft School
Other
Bachelor of Business Studies, AUT, New Zealand