Unique. Outrageous. Creative – sultry pop art unique pieces.
Corona. Lockdown. Everything silent. Except in our heads. My art director is sitting between paint, glue and empty coffee cups, I’m in the studio between flashes and half-finished pictures. And then it happens: a torn nude photo of me (i.e. taken by me, not me in the photo) lands across an old Vogue cover. A friend sees the mess, takes a quick look – and says: “That’s world class.”
Two days later he sends me a photo. The first Modern Madonna. A mixture of collage, overpainting and a great deal of flair. Not a product of chance, but not a planned design either. I was immediately impressed. No long thinking, no marketing blah-blah – just do it. And suddenly there was this new form: a nude photo became a unique piece. A work of art that not only looks different, but also feels different.
Transforming Photography into Mixed Media Art
I provide the basis: my nude photos. My art director develops independent works from them – sometimes by painting over them, sometimes as a collage, often both. The materials change constantly. What counts is the effect, not the technique. We have recently gone one step further: some works are cast in epoxy resin. The Madonna Bricks are no longer pictures, they are objects. Heavy, present, almost sculptural.
By the way, some of the motifs are from my Collectors Edition. There, the images work on their own – reduced, concentrated, to the point. When I give such a motif to my art director, it becomes something completely different. No fine-tuning, but a break. And that’s exactly what fascinates me: how much something can change without losing itself. Two completely different forms, but both with the same basis: a single moment that can do more than be fixed in one direction.
What I love about it is that an image that could theoretically be printed a thousand times becomes something unique. Not a copy, not a second time. And although each work is based on one of my photos, the results couldn’t be more different. Some works are quiet, others demand attention. But they all have something that no printout from the printer will ever have: Character.
What remains: One-of-a-kind Art Objects
No series, no common thread. The Modern Madonnas do not function as a line, but as a collection. Each work stands on its own – and yet they belong together. Unique pieces of Pop Art that are not subordinate. And that is precisely why they work.
Each one is different – and that’s the style.
The fascinating thing about the Modern Madonnas is that no two works are the same. Each one emerges from the moment, without a fixed line or repeatable concept. What worked yesterday is thrown out the window today. My art director is constantly developing his techniques – sometimes it’s complex combinations, sometimes just a single intervention that changes everything. Anyone looking for a consistent style here will fail. And that’s exactly the beauty of it.
My selection of images also follows its own logic. I don’t necessarily take the most perfect shots for these works. But the ones that leave room. Room for breaks, interventions, new levels. It’s not about refining the perfect photo – it’s about creating something new from it.
Censorship? We do it ourselves – but only if we want to.
The real question was never: How much can you show? But rather: Who decides that? Absurd morals prevail on social media. One nipple? The picture is gone. A little too much skin? Blocked. And that’s exactly why we said: let’s do it ourselves. If we censor something, it’s because we want to – not because some algorithm thinks it’s the right thing to do. And if we don’t censor it, then we don’t censor it.
In the beginning, we even had the idea of adding small patches with printed texts like “Take Off” so that buyers could pick something themselves and apply their own personal censorship – if they felt they had to. We quickly abandoned that idea. Most people want it exactly as it is: honest, direct and without a lot of fuss. And what makes us particularly happy is that the feedback is consistently positive. Men, women – everyone has different favorites. Some go for a quiet portrait, others go for full force. And that shows us that we’re on the right track – even if not everyone likes it.
Madonna – but without a halo
For us, it has nothing to do with virgins or holiness. For us, Madonna is simply a woman. A beautiful woman. A strong woman. And sometimes someone who just looks good and doesn’t have to explain herself. Femininity, self-determination, pop culture – and a little wink in the direction of the church. Quite deliberately.
Our Madonnas don’t float above things. They have both feet on the ground. Or lying on the sofa. Or squatting somewhere where they don’t actually pose. You won’t find a halo on our Madonnas. Nor will you find a pose to please anyone. What you get is a look that doesn’t ask whether it fits – it’s simply there. Period.
Between studio, madness and crazy ideas
We work the way we are: not fully planned, not perfect, but with a pretty good feel for what works. I take care of the aesthetics, my art director is the one who tries things out. I usually know exactly which photo to show him – and the best thing is when I see the gears start turning in his head. Then it doesn’t take long for something completely unexpected to suddenly appear on the table. We discuss a lot, sometimes it gets loud – but that’s exactly what gets us further.
The fact that we have been working without a gallery up to now was not a conscious decision. It just turned out that way. But we are open to collaborations. You have to see the Modern Madonnas in the original. Whether collage, overpainting or object – they have a presence in person that simply doesn’t come across online. That’s why we want to show our Modern Mad onnas live. Not as pixels on a screen, but the way they look when you stand in front of them. The Modern Madonnas belong on the wall, not just in some online store ( but they are only available in MY online store anyway;-)).
One work, many paths
Almost 200 Madonnas have been created so far, around 50 of which have found new owners. And that shows one thing above all: there is no pattern, no “typical” audience. Some like garish collages, others like pared-down portraits – all styles have been sold. Anyone who likes art, is looking for something unique or simply wants a strong picture for the wall will sooner or later get stuck with one.
What makes me particularly happy is that it’s not just men who buy. Women do too – they are often even the braver ones. And the best compliment we regularly hear is: “I’ve never seen anything like it.” That’s exactly where we want to go.
Time and again, our Madonnas are combined with works by Franz West or Arnulf Rainer compared. I knew Rainer, but I had to google West first. In the meantime, we’ve both read up a bit – and yes, there are parallels. But I think our works often seem more accessible, perhaps also a bit more positive. Without wanting to diminish anything – getting to where they are now is a chapter in itself. But I still believe that our Madonnas have their very own approach. Visually, in terms of content – and in dealing with the topic of nudity anyway.
What comes next?
The Madonna Bricks were quite a break – in the best sense of the word. Suddenly three-dimensional, heavy, shiny, and definitely not for the quiet room. Something completely new. And to be honest: nobody knows what’s coming next. Maybe installations. Maybe giant Madonnas, three meters high. Maybe sound, glass, fabric, video. Maybe everything together.
We don’t plan much. We try things out. And every new work brings new ideas. That makes it exciting – for us, and for everyone who sees, collects or simply celebrates the Madonnas.
If you have any questions, are interested in a cooperation or simply want to see a Madonna in real life – get in touch. Or have a look in the store. But please note: there is only one per motif.
