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I often move around as if I were an alien stepping out of a spaceship, experiencing
everything as if it were entirely new. I fully immerse myself in this new world, absorbing it interperonal relaitionships. In doing so, I become a part of this entire universe, feeling
drawn to it and consistently deeply moved. That’s what interests me in painting, and it’s what I aim to convey as authentically as possible in my artworks.

I capture everything that seems essential to me in this universe in sketchbooks. From there, my two-part diary paintings emerge, telling stories from a radically subjectiveStandpoint - recounting highly personal and intimate experiences, and formulating a kind of visual again dive into the atmosphere of anonymous places and recall the dialogues that have remained imprinted in my memory.

It revolves around being together or even in

opposition, exploring pleasure, desire, longing, eroticism, sexuality, transience, and death -

essentially, love.

When I paint, it is crucial form me to allow each individual painting to have ample time for gradual development and consolidation. My technique involves using layers of oil paint in

various combinations and colors. The thickness and application of oil paint, whether thin, thick, delicate, or somewhat rought, play a significant role in the duration it takes to create my works. Oil paint possesses living and organic quality, as opposed to artificial pigments.

Throughout the extended drying period, my paintings often undergo substantial changes.
The paint develops a distinct structure that convevs a sense of impermanence to me. It’s
akin to life itself, a process characterized by time, transience, and memory. Thus, it can
take anywhere from 2 to 5 years to complete a painting. This stands in stark contrast to
our present time, where things often unfold rapidly.

I primarily paint in the horizontal plane, and this particular perspektive also influences the
composition of my artworks. Sometimes, the lower layer of paint is still fresh while only the
surface has dried. It’s comparable to a wound that cannot be exposed openly. Only when
the initial dry layer froms, like a scab, can the painting be moved. Similary, I can only lift
the artwork once the wound has closed.

This process can take several years, much like
the healing of a wounded love. Even after years, my paintings can still exude vibrancy. In the case of a smale blue painting, for instance, after 4 years, color traces slowly ran down, resembling tiny tears. These are physical processes, but one might surmise the presence of an entirely different otherworldly force behind them.

NIKOS KALAITZIS

I was born in 1966 in Leipzig as the son of Greek immigrants. In 1979 I moved to West Berlin. Since then I have lived and worked in Berlin.

EDUCATION

1990–1993 Preliminary studies with Prof. Nicole Naskow and Andrzej Woron

1993–2000 Studied painting at Berlin-Weißensee Academy of Art, Prof. Werner Liebmann

1998 Study visit to Crete

1999 Diploma

2001Master student with Prof. Werner Liebmann

EXHIBITIONS (SELECTION) & PROJECTS

2026

Fernwahr // curated by Dr. Helen Adkins
Opening: 26 February 2026 from 6:40 PM to 11:00 PM
Artist Talks: 27 February 2026
Closing: 1 March 2026

Kunstquartier Bethanien – Projektraum, Berlin

2025–2026

Horizonte
Opening: 28 November 2025 at 7:00 PM
Closing: 11 January 2026 at 7:00 PM

Kunstverein Neukölln, Berlin

Open Studios, Naumannpark at the Südkreuz, Berlin (S)

Umweltgestaltung, Project Porträt at the Kant-Oberschule, Berlin

2024

Alles VI, Studio im Hochhaus, Berlin

[ R ] Evolution, Markgräfler Museum, Müllheim

Open Studios, Naumannpark at the Südkreuz, Berlin

Umweltgestaltung, Project Porträt at the Kant-Oberschule, Berlin

2023

Berlin Diary, Project space in Theater unterm Dach, Berlin (Solo)

Alles V, Studio im Hochhaus, Berlin

2022

Alles IV, Studio im Hochhaus, Berlin

Anonyme Zeichner, Galerie im Körnerpark, Berlin

Künstler/innen für Künstler/innen, Kunstverein Neukölln, Berlin (C)

Künstlerfreundschaften - Part 2, ae Galerie, Potsdam

Pink Panik, Kunstverein Neukölln, Berlin

Collapse, Umspannwerk, Berlin

2019

Chaos-Ordnung-System, ae Galerie, Potsdam

2018

Anonyme Zeichner, Galerie im Körnerpark, Berlin

Neue Echtheit, 48h Neukölln, Berlin

Sommersprossen, ae Galerie, Potsdam (with Christos Bouronikos and Melina Papageorgiou)

2017

Transformart Festival, Rathenauhallen, Berlin

2016

Unterströmung, Project Space Bänsch 20, Berlin

Thermik, Kunsthalle M3, Berlin

Transformart 2016 - Das Archimedische Prinzip, Rathenauhallen, Berlin

2015–2016

Painting for the research project Das BiestA, TuD, Berlin

2015

Aufzug zur Chirurgie, Spreehöfe, Berlin

2014

Xs (unknown quantities), Galerie R31, Berlin

Transit 2014, Open Studios, Berlin

Wall Expo, Berlinutte Art Space, Berlin

2013

Transit 2013, Open Studios, Berlin

Macht Kunst II, Deutsche Bank KunstHalle in the Alten Münze, Berlin

2012

Transit 2012, Open Studios, Berlin

Tagebuchgemälde, 48h Neukölln, Berlin (Solo)

2011

Transit 2011, Open Studios, Berlin

2010

Toilettentrilogie, Project Porträt at the Erika-Mann-Grundschule, Berlin

2009

DIN A6, Kunstraum t27, Berlin

Transit 2009, Open Studios, Berlin

Kunstnachten, Coaching Culture Gallery, Berlin

02. Kunstmesse Art Tower, Alte Kindl-Brauerei Neukölln, Berlin

01. Biennale #09, Kunstverein Klein-Zetelvitz, Deutschland (C)

summer special, Kunstraum t27 with Kurt Krömer, Berlin

Fliesentreff, 48h Neukölln, Berlin (Solo)

Toilettentrilogie, Project Porträt at the Erika-Mann-Grundschule, Berlin

2008

konträr, Project from Ziegert for Art, Berlin

Transit 2008, Open Studios, Berlin

Nord Art - International Art Exhibition, Büdelsdorf (C)

Kontakt #1, toiletten 27, Berlin (with Soichiro Mitsuja and Peter Müller)

2007

Ex Voto - Heimlichkeit und Offenbarung, Galerie R31, Berlin

Transit 2007, Open Studios, Berlin

Best of stil und bruch, Galerie stil und bruch, Berlin

Ich mache alles was du willst., Galerie R31, Berlin (Solo)

2005

18x24, 18m Galerie für Zahlenwerte in the Museum der unerhörten Dinge, Berlin

2004

Zeichnung, 18 artists as guests, Schwules Museum, Berlin

2003

Porträts, Galerie La Girafe, Berlin

Polysphere, Galerie stil und bruch, Berlin (Solo)

2002

Zeichnung – Kunsthalt, Project Space, Stralholz, Switzerland

Giganten, Kunstraum graphé, Kulturamt Mitte, Berlin (Solo)

2001

Pilgerfahrt zum Buddha - Wall Painting, Shaolin Tempel Deutschland, Berlin

Ausstellung der Meisterschüler/innen, KHB Weißensee, Berlin

Mengerzeile e.V., Galerie im Rathaus Treptow, Berlin

Lagos, Projekt der Galerie Expo 3000 in Hellersdorf, Berlin

2000

Fenster nach Innen, Galerie art2, Berlin (with Thomas Hacker), (Solo)

1999

Das Abbild und sein Bild, Diploma Exhibition, KHB Weißensee, Berlin

PUBLIC COLLECTION

Margräfler Museum, Müllheim, Deutschland (C)

TEACHING

Art teacher at the Kant-Oberschule in Berlin, 2023–2024

Art teacher at the Schiller-Gymnasium in Berlin, 2023

Art teacher at the Mahlsdorf Schule in Berlin, 202–2022

Art teacher at the Kath. Schule Sankt Franziskus in Berlin, 2019–2020

Art teacher at the Friedrich-Ebert-Gymnasium in Berlin, 2018–2019

Art teacher at the Johann-Georg-Elser-Schule in Berlin, 2010–2018