Mom knows best, 2021
Acrylic paint, foam, yarn, cotton, canvas, wood.
160 x 125 cm
Coup Pinocchio, 2022
Satin, plush, yarn, wool, tie-dye, canvas, wood.
160 x 124 cm
Composition #1, 2021
Satin, foam, yarn, cotton, acrylic paint, wood.
60 x 50 cm
Daniel Ferstl (b. 1982, Vienna, Austria) lives and works in Vienna. He studied painting at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna.
Daniel Ferstl’s works defy categorization on various levels: painting meets sculpture, high meets low brow, classic composition meets kitschy extravaganza in the choice of motifs and materials. Pop cultural references range from 70s and 80s cult movies to contemporary gamer and meme culture. In his recent works, colorful fabrics are stretched onto frames with stuffed textile elements sewn onto them, giving the works a three dimensional quality. The painterly gesture is only present as a mediated remainder in the printed patterns of the fabrics Ferstl chooses for his backgrounds. On an immediate affective level, the silky, shiny, fluffy works are imbued with the kind of “cruel optimism” that keeps us attached to the dreams that deep inside we know might crush us in the end.
Exhibitions include Kunsthalle Wien, Vienna (2015), New Jörg, Vienna (2015), Ve.Sch, Vienna (2015), Belvedere, Vienna (2016), Belmacz, London (2017 and 2019), Foundation, Vienna (2018), Zeller van Almsick, Vienna (2020), Austrian Cultural Forum, London (2020), Wonnerth-Dejaco, Vienna (2022), Belvedere 21, Vienna (2023), Albert Contemporary, Odense (2023), L21, Palma de Mallorca (2023), among others.
Daniel Ferstl
1982, Linz, Austria
Lives and works in Vienna, AT
Education
2003–2008
Painting, Prof. Christian Ludwig Attersee, University of Applied Arts, Vienna, AT
Exhibitions (Selection) Solo/Duo exhibitions
2023
Solo presentation with Wonnerth Dejaco, Artissima Art Fair, Torino, IT
2022
Lovers, Wonnerth Dejaco, Vienna, AT
2021
The Sleeper must awaken, Sink, Vienna, AT
2019
FouFou Contemporary’s Inaugural Show (w. Josip Novosel), FouFou Contemporary, Vienna, AT
Nachtleuchtendes/Blumenantwort (with Marianne Vlaschits), Salon Goldschlag, Vienna, AT
2018
Life Death, Justice, Vienna, AT
2017
Artist Statement, Parallel, Vienna, AT
2015
baby, please stop crying…, Ve.Sch Vienna, AT
OOH EEH OOH AH AH, MUSA Startgalerie, Vienna, AT
2014
Mavericks, New Jörg, Vienna, AT
2012
Anthem (with Titania Seidl), Heiligenkreuzerhof, Vienna, AT
2010
Searching for Bigfoot, Galerie Ulrike Hrobsky, Vienna, AT
2009
Temple, Galerie Ulrike Hrobsky, Vienna, AT
Engfer/Ferstl (w. Dana Engfer), Gallery BMB, Amsterdam, NL
2008
Ruler of Otherworld, Galerie Ulrike Hrobsky, Vienna, AT
Group exhibitions
2024
The Mountain Outside Our Window, A group show with the 12 represented artists, curated by Katharina Höglinger,
WONNERTH DEJACO, Vienna, AT
2023
L21, Palma de Mallorca, ES
Über das Neue. Wiener Szenen und darüber hinaus. Teil 2, Belvedere 21, Vienna, AT
Group show curated by Claus Busch Risvig, Albert Contemporary, Odense, DK
Atletica Ideal sinks in Magic, Sex and Politics, curated by Erika Olea, presentation of the Family Servais Collection, The Loft,Brussels, BE
2020
Dizzy Mouse, Zeller van Almsick, Vienna, AT
not.Cancelled Salon, Online Show
Tremare, Frappant, Hamburg, DE
Hypersurface, Austrian Cultural Forum, London, UK
2019
B, Belmacz, London, UK
2018
Angebliche Väter, GanicaStautz, Vienna, AT
Bar du Bois Kultur, Foundation, Vienna, AT
2017
Bodikon, Belmacz, London, UK
2016
Absolute Beginnings, Zeller van Almsick Projekte, Vienna, AT
Mauve, Club Pro, Los Angeles, US
Instagram Now! 2016 Sketchbooks, Portfolios,
Diaries, Belvedere, Vienna, AT
why the long face, black sphinx, Mauve at Drop City, Newcastle, UK
2015
viennacontemporary Art Fair, One Work Gallery, Vienna, AT
Destination Vienna, Kunsthalle Wien, Vienna, AT
2014
Toons Like Us and Toons Like Us (Reprise), two shows curated by Melanie Ohnemus, WellWellWell,
Vienna, AT
One Mauve Gallery, with Salvatore Viviano, Titania Seidl and Lukas Thaler, Vienna, AT
Work, with Salvatore Viviano, Titania Seidl and Lukas Thaler, Mauve, Vienna, AT
Achtzig für Achtzig, Sammlung Achim Freyer, Berlin, DE
2013
Daniel Ferstl/Stefan Reiterer/Titania Seidl/Lukas Thaler, Parallel Art Fair, Vienna, AT
Jakob Breit/Daniel Ferstl/Titania Seidl, Je Regrette; Berlin, DE
Verfhond’s 2013 Painting Show, Art Initiative Verfhond, Appels Gallery, Amsterdam, NL
2012
A Small Embassy of Living Painters, Appels Gallery, Amsterdam, NL
Koaxiale 12, Künstlerhaus Wien, Vienna, AT
2011
Junge Positionen, Galerie Ulrike Hrobsky, Vienna, AT
Zeichnung Wien II, Galerie Ulrike Hrobsky, Vienna, AT
2010
Viecherei, Galerie Ulrike Hrobsky, Vienna, AT
2009
Großer Geist, bewahre uns!, Kabelwerk, Vienna, AT
2007
Gold (with Stefan Pani, Hanno Schnegg); KUNSTHALLE project space, Vienna, AT
Awards and grants
2016
Shortlisted for Strabag Art Award, AT
2015
Shortlisted for Strabag Art Award, AT
2014
das weiße haus Studios, Vienna, AT
Works in collections
2023
Acquisition by the Collection of the State of Austria, AT
2022
Collection Famille Servais, Brussels, BE Collection of Marcel Buchberger, Vienna, AT
2015
Acquisition by the Collection of the City of Vienna, AT
2013
Acquisition by the Collection of the City of Vienna, AT
Miscellaneous
2020
D. Tulip Editions (art edition project)
2018
Music Video Tents – “Sabbatical”
2016
Five Highs (music project)
2012–2016