Premio Combat Prize

Biography:
Bärbel Ricklefs-Bahr
Schiffdorf / Germany

From 1980 until 1986 restored and rebuild an old, traditional portuguese Schooner.
Lived on board many years, sailed often back to Portugal and finally made a living there by restoring old traditional Portuguese Houses and rented them for holidays.
Back in Germany in 2001
Since 2006 free artist as informal painter
Memberships: Paradox Art Exchange
TIA Trevisan International Art
Künstlervereinigung die ARCHE Beverstedt
Kunstverein Worpswede
Publications Who`s Who in Visuell Art (2014)
Creative Energy Art, International Catalogue of Contemporary Artists (published by Paola Trevisan)
Artist Window Magazine 42/43 2013
The New Collectors Book (published by B.Malone, NY)
Exhibitions
2011
Stade
Oldenburg
Bremerhaven
Stade
Schiffdorf
Beverstedt

Landgericht (Solo)
Oberlandesgericht (Solo)
Buchhandlung Mügge (Solo)
Goebenhaus (Solo)
Rathaus (Solo)
Die ARCHE
2012
Lübeck
Bremen
Bremen
Bremerhaven
Beverstedt
Italy./ Bologna
Hamburg
Hanse Art
Kap Hoorn Art IV
Atlantic Hotel (Solo)
Deutsche Bank (Solo)
Die ARCHE
Galeria de Marchi
Marziart Galerie
2013
Osnabrück
Berlin
Italy / Gargano
Bremen
Bremerhaven
Ireland / Galway
Beverstedt
Berlin
Spain / Madrid
Berlin
lmpulse/Messe
Eagl Gallery
Palazzo della Bello
Kap Hoorn Art V
Galerie 149 (Solo)
The Kenny Gallery
Die ARCHE
Art Affairs
Ateneo del Prado
Galerie “Blaue Stunde” (Solo)
2014
USA / New York
Portugal /Lissabon
Austria / Innsbruck
Italy / Turin
Ottersberg/Fischerhude
France / Strasbourg
Ward Nasse Gallery
Colorida Art Gallery
Art Innsbruck
Galleria Unique (Solo)
Galleria Casa Portuguesa (Solo)
St-art 2014
Artwork description:
Bärbel Ricklefs-Bahr
Painter out of passion

Emotions, spontaneity, generosity
Bärbel Ricklefs-Bahr is a painter who deliberately takes risks in her art. She does not plan in advance, but instead relies on spontaneity.
This artist requires a certain amount of freedom, generosity, and limitlessness to reach her expectations of art. She wants to shape with colours, and bring contrasts into harmony. Without pressure, she follows her intuition. She works informally, not letting herself get boxed in by rules of style. Her art develops out of the process of painting.
None of her works is like another. Paintings with subdued colours alternate with those of bright or pastel colours. There are also paintings in which the deservedness and the intrusiveness of her work almost unite.
White and black are added to it, enhance or limit, depending on the placement and extent, the radiance of the primary tones.
The shapes also vary. In addition to smaller geometric figures, such as filling appearing letters or numbers, revive, completely free from within the colour, developed abstract entities of different size canvas. They often stand out vividly from a white background.
The artist omits contour lines. She prefers soft edges which slightly ravel out at times.
Some of the colours forms change into others, melt and through this gain substance and scope.

A piece begun as abstract painting may eventually form objects and lead to a theme. She does not wish to restrict the viewer. Instead, she wants to trigger emotions through the colours that are at the foundation of her paintings, through the shapes one might discover, and through exciting, diverse textures. The viewer will find their own access if they engage in the experience.
The material paintings by Bärbel Ricklefs-Bahr invite us to go on a discovery journey within them, and on a worthwhile and entertaining journey that appeals to our emotions and offer a great variety.
Text: Elke Grapenthien, MA Art Historian