Artist Statement: Career Trajectory, Independence & Vision

 

"I have always believed that art is meant to be seen, not spoken about. A painting must stand on its own and speak directly to the viewer; it does not require endless verbal explanation. Because of this philosophy, I rarely discuss my individual pieces. Aside from brief guiding thoughts on specific series like WE in RED or Violet, my true expression remains entirely on the canvas. Instead, my statement as an artist is found in the deliberate trajectory of my career, my personal evolution, and my absolute creative independence.

 

By completely ignoring and bypassing the elitist art university system, I chose an unconventional path that has turned me into a true exception—not only within Austria but on a global scale. Driven by a profound desire to be part of something larger than myself, I managed to work on and participate in over 250 international projects and exhibitions within just eight years. This relentless pace is an absolute record in the contemporary art world.

 

A unique milestone of this journey is that I do not apply through open calls. Except for the prestigious Ad Art Show in New York, where I actively submitted my work, 100% of my exhibition participations are the direct result of unprompted email invitations sent to me by curators, museums, and the head offices of major biennials, including Florence, Rome, and the Triennale.

 

Because my paintings are academically reviewed by elite global committees and chosen through highly competitive selection processes, my practice fundamentally does not belong to the 'pay-to-play' category. To preserve absolute artistic liberty, I manage my global presence entirely by myself, utilizing a transparent, non-profit cost-sharing structure. Across all 250 projects—including art transport and local technical production—my expenses have averaged just €300 per project.

 

This merit-based framework has granted me access to the most elite institutions in the world, culminated by a landmark presentation at the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) in New York City. To have my large-scale work selected by global curators for a showcase within the walls of the world’s most prestigious modern art museum stands as the ultimate validation of my independent career and global market relevance.

This institutional success is mirrored by my other historic New York presentations, where fees strictly reflected actual technical execution rather than commercial entry costs:

• The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA): A crowning achievement highlighting my international stature, positioning my unique aesthetic directly before the global art elite.
• Artifact Gallery (Manhattan - 2024): A historic physical milestone where my large-scale original oil paintings were curated and exhibited directly alongside original masterpieces by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Joan Miró—firmly embedding my contemporary work into the lineage of modern art history.
• The Ad Art Show (3-Time Participant): Demonstrating my ability to captivate the absolute elite of the art market, my work was successfully selected three times for this premier New York showcase. This includes two historic exhibitions inside the iconic Oculus at the World Trade Center and one major feature at the Powerhouse, all judged by a notoriously strict, world-class jury of museum directors and top-tier art executives.
• Big Screen Plaza (Manhattan): Following a rigorous curation process by elite juries featuring directors like Ann Marie Richards from the Sotheby’s Institute, my artwork was selected and displayed for a full month completely free of charge in June 2024, requiring nothing more than a minimal handling fee of just $60. My global presence here remains highly active, as my work was selected and showcased once again this year in 2026.
• Arthouse NYC: Solidifying my permanent footprint in the New York art scene, I have successfully achieved 6 distinct project participations with Arthouse NYC since 2024.
• Times Square & NASDAQ Billboards: My presentations on Manhattan's iconic big screens were realized through direct invitations from Michael Lam, a distinguished colleague of the Ad Art Show. These historic billboard showcases carried highly efficient, low-cost logistics fees ranging strictly between $300 and $600.

Parallel to my New York achievements, my career is anchored by deep institutional recognition across Europe and Asia, marked by prestigious direct invitations to exhibit within protected UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites. Presenting my contemporary, large-scale oil paintings in historic hubs like Florence, Rome, Venice, Assisi, Mantua, Crete, Athens, and the Seine banks in Paris underlines the universal, timeless quality of my art.

 

This same principle of non-commercial recognition applies to my academic title of Professor, awarded by the Costanza Foundation entirely free of any financial fees.

 

My global market presence and art-historical relevance are further solidified by major dedicated publications. I am featured in my own exclusive Celebrity Magazine published by Contemporary Art Collectors. Furthermore, in July 2026, my comprehensive monograph—written and curated by Contemporary Art Curators—will be officially published. This book features an official ISBN and is distributed internationally to global archives, collectors, and institutions.

 

Having proven my international relevance through exhibitions in over 25 museums and receiving more than 37 global art awards, the foundation of my career is firmly established. Moving forward, I will continue to participate freely in curated group projects and institutional museum exhibitions worldwide. However, having single-handedly built an immense global value over the past eight years, I am now also open to aligning with a professional gallery. My goal is to find a dedicated partner who recognizes my international stature—solidified by institutions like the MoMA, the strict juries of New York, and global publications—and is fully committed to representing and selling my paintings at the true market value they have rightfully earned."

 

Christina Mitterhuber on June 27th 2026