Jost Münster

Jost Münster’s paintings and installations in wood, paint and paper experiment with colour and the painted surface to create a series of works that explore the reaches of representation. His work spans and connects painting and sculpture; one of a generation of artists who push, pull apart, extend, and test the boundaries of what a painting can be.

Working from his urban surroundings, Münster uses shapes from fragments of facades, silhouettes and individual geometric elements. He strips away pictorial detail, flattens and collages surfaces with abstract, mosaic-like colour swatches and backgrounds.

Layering materials is a significant method for Münster, sometimes painting over the top of older works, renewing their surfaces and leaving small traces of what was there before. This accentuates a defining preoccupation – the relationship between foreground and background, and facilitates a conversation between the old and new. Subtraction and stripping away is another process through which Münster plays with the tension between something that appears weathered and depleted, or conversely entirely full of fresh content.

Jost Münster was born in Ulm, Germany. He lives and works in London.

Education
2002-03 Goldsmiths College of Art, London, M.A. Fine Art
1996-98  Visual Art/IntermediamArt at Fine Art Academy Stuttgart
1990-96 Fine Art Degree at Fine Art Academy Stuttgart,

Solo Exhibitons

2022
One Place At A Time, Museum Ulm, Germany
Within Touching Distance, Bobinska Brownlee, London

2018
Flirt Tricks, 1961 Projects, Singapore, 21 April – 16 June

2017
Solo exhibition at Galerie Mirko Mayer, Cologne, Germany
New Neighbours 2, Stadtgalerie, Saarbrucken, Germany

2016
New Neighbours, Tintype, London

2013
Together For Now, Tintype, London (UK)

2012
Doppelgänger, Victory Gallery, Portland (US)

2010
Ground Control, Museum 52, London (UK)

2009
Refuge, Kunstverein Friedrichshafen, Friedrichshafen (GER)

2008
Home of the former Storyteller, Monika Bobinska Gallery, London (UK)

2006
Still; Lounge Gallery, London (UK)

2004
Das Wesen der Dinge versteckt sich gern ( Heraklit)
Kunstverein Ulm, ( with Joerg Holubitschka), Ulm* (GER)

2003
Painting Practices, (with Bob Mathews) Sevenseven Gallery, London (UK)

2002
24h, Wuerttembergischer Kunstverein, Stuttgart* (GER)

2001
Stipendiatenausstellung, Kunststiftung Baden-Wuerttemberg, Stuttgart (GER)

2000
vorort, Gallery Zellberg, Berlin
zuhören hinschauen – junge Kuenstler im Stadthaus, Stadthaus, Ulm* (GER)

Group Exhibitions

2022
There Are No Strangers Here, Canopy Collections and Modernity, London

2021
Come Back, Galerie Valentien, Stuttgart

2020
Yesterday, Today and Forever – Five Year Anniversary at [art seen] Nicosia, Cyprus. Curated by Maria Stahi
Hard Painting x 2, Phoenix, Brighton, curated by Ian Boutell, Philip Cole, Stig Evans and Patrick O’Donnell.
Slow Burn, Auxiliary Gallery, Middlesbrough curated by the online editorial and curatorial project Saturation Point

2019
More Gravy!, Tintype, London
Dark Lantern, Sabine Knust, Munich
Notes on Painting II, Koppel Project Central, London
Check Mate!, BCMA, Berlin, Germany
The Fight, Abstraction v Figuration, Kunstgenerator, Geneva, Switzerland
Zein Zufall, Grolle Pass Projects, Wuppertal, Germany
Carousel, a group show at The Koppel Project Central, London
LOS Künstlerschmiede, Museum Fähre, Bad Saulgau, Germany

2018
Interval [ ] still : now Tintype, London
Painting Notes, Art Seen Gallery, Cyprus

2017
Interval [] Stop Gap at the Herbert Read Gallery, UCA Canterbury

2016
Whitstable Biennale {} Interval, The Waiting room, Whitstable Railway Station

2015
unpainting / resurfacing University of Herts Gallery
Bread and Jam II, Bread and Jam, London
Abstract Apartment, Deborah House, Retreat Place, London E9
Multiplicities at Art Seen – Contemporary Art Projects & Editions, Nicosia, Cyprus

2014
Aktion Auktion, Wuerttembergischer Kunstverein Stuttgart, Stuttgart (GER)
Manchester Contemporary with Tintype Gallery, Manchester (UK)
WC1 & EC1 Galleries Event, Tintype, London
Grandes L’Erba, Rouen (FR)

2013
Limber: spatial painting practices, Herbert Read Gallery, Canterbury (UK)
Grandes Galleries de L’Erba, Rouen (FR)

2012
Crazee Golf, Tintype Gallery, London (UK)
Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Art, London (UK)
Double Vision, Lion and Lamb, London (UK)
Hinterland, Arch402 Gallery, London (UK)

2011
A sort of night to the Mind, Artary Gallery, Stuttgart (GER)
Mostyn Open 2011, Oriel Mostyn Gallery, Llandudno, Wales (UK)
MARGINI – Arte Contemporanea, Massa (IT)
Polemically Small, Charlie Smith Gallery, London (UK)
Polemically Small (The Future can wait), The Torrance Art Museum, Los Angeles 
Polemically Small, Charlie Smith Gallery, London
Polemically Small, (the Future Can Wait), The Torrance Art Museum Los Angeles
Polemically Small, Garboushian Gallery, Los Angeles
Zig Zag, Charlie Dutton Gallery, London (UK)
A Sort of Night to the Mind, Arch402 Gallery, London (UK)
Sync Sync, 401contemporary/ London projects, London (UK)

2010
Hulahoop, 401contemporary/ London projects, London (UK)
John Moores 26, Liverpool Biennial, Walker Art Gallery; Liverpool (UK)
Das vertraute Unvertraute, Wuerttembergischer Kunstverein Stuttgart, Stuttgart (GER)
Urban Origami, PM Gallery and House, London (UK)
Mexican Blanket, Museum 52, London (UK)

2009
A sort of night to the mind a kind of night for our thoughts, Herbert Read Gallery, Canterbury (UK)
Saxon, Schwartz Gallery, London (UK)
The Royal Republic, Master Piper, London (UK)
Celestial Suitcase, 476 Jefferson Street, New York (US)
Borderland, Collyer Bristow Gallery, London (UK)
Hypersurface FX, MARGINI – Arte Contemporanea, Massa (IT)

2008
Grotto, Museum 52, London (UK)
Space Now, Triangle, London (UK)
Hypersurface Plus, Ovada, Oxford (UK)
Aqua Art Miami, Lounge at Aqua, Miami (US)
Thames Mudlarks, CTRL Gallery, Houston Texas (US)
Superscope, Monika Bobinska Gallery, London (co-curator) (UK)

2007
Layer Cake, Fabio Tiboni Arte Contemporanea, Bologna (IT)
Year 07, Lounge at County Hall, London (UK)
Celeste Art Price, Old Truman Brewery, London and touring to Lyon & Turnbull, Edinburgh (UK)
Close at hand, Contemporary Art Projects, London (UK)
Artfutures 2007, Bloomberg, London (UK)
Wood for the Trees and Falling Leaves, Gimpel Fils, London (UK)

2006
John Moores 24, Liverpool Biennial, Walker Art Gallery; Liverpool (UK)
Sensous Panorama, Lounge Gallery, London (UK)
Lounge, Lounge Gallery, London (UK)

2005
real strange, Lounge Gallery, London (UK)
Be ready, heart, for parting new endeavour, Great Eastern Hotel, London (co-curator) (UK)
Space Open, Triangle, London (UK)
Current Vision,  Sartorial Contemporary Art, London (UK)

2004
The Horizon of Expectation, Empire Gallery, London (UK)
Revolution, Trailer, Mare Street, London (UK)
Bonequake, Wimpole project space, London (UK)
The Exhibition, Ladbroke Hall, London (UK)
Halbes Haus, Three Colts Gallery, London (UK)
Goldsmiths College Graduates 2003, Gallery Mirko Mayer, Cologne (GER)
Unsichere Welten, Kunstverein Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden (GER)
One day; Gallery Corridor; Reykjavik, Iceland (IS)

2003
Junger Sueden, Gallery Albstadt, Albstadt* (GER)
Made in UK, Archgallery, London (UK)
MA show, Goldsmiths College of Art, London* (UK)

2002
Us & them, Great Eastern Hotel, London (UK)
Funky-Bunky, Ausstellung der Klasse Bunk  (GER)
Kulturverein Zehntscheuer e.V., Rottenburg* (GER)

2001
Junge Kunst (touring exhibition), Rathausgalerie, Aalen (GER)
Kunstverein Wilhelmshoehe, Ettlingen (GER)
Karlskaserne, Ludwigsburg (GER)
Friedrichsbau, Buehl (GER)

2000
Junge Kunst (touring exhibition), Kunstverein (GER)
Villingen-Schwenningen*, Villingen-Schwenningen (GER)
Galerie der Stadt Wendlingen, Wendlingen (GER)
Stadtmuseum, Schopfheim (GER)

1999
3:1, Alte Stallung Stuttgart (curator) (GER)
Mille grazie, Interio, Stuttgart (GER)

1998
DOWNTOWN – und andere unbekannte Orte, Wuerttembergischer
Kunstverein, Stuttgart* (GER)
Vorsicht, Farbe, Badischer Kunstverein, Karlsruhe (GER)

Prizes and Awards

2010 
Finalist John Moores 26

2007
Finalist Celeste Art Price

2006
Finalist John Moores 24
Shortlisted Celeste Art Price

2000
Graduate Scholarship from the state Baden-Wuerttemberg
Fellowship for London, Akademie fuer Bildende Kuenste Stuttgart

1999
Scholarship from Kunststiftung Baden-Wuerttemberg
Oberschwaebischer Kunstpreis der Jugend

1995
1. Preis Galerie Alpiersbach

1992
Scholarship for young artists, Ulm

Bibliography: *denotes catalogue/publication

2018
Interval [ ] still : now – a publication accompanying the exhibition at Tintype, with texts by the five exhibiting artists, and contributions by Matthew de Pulford and Sharon Morris.

2017

New Neighbours, Stadtgalerie Saarbrücken

2014
Peter Suchin, London Round-up 2, Tintype Gallery, Art Monthly No373, Feb. p.33 Illus.
Jackie Wullschlager, Financial Times, Critics’ Choice, 18. January, p.17
Limber: Spatial Painting Practices, Catalogue ISBN 978-9570797-8-6

2012
Richard Speer, Jost Munster: ‘Doppelganger’ at Victory Gallery, Portland, Art Ltd, July August issue

2011
 ‘A Sort of Night to the Mind, A KIND OF NIGHT FOR OUR THOUGHTS’ Published by Arch 402 Gallery, ISBN 978 0 9570574 0 1 (Exhib. Cat)*
2010 Michael Archer, Jost Münster Museum 52, Artforum, p. 261, May 2010
2009 Cherry Smyth, Jost Münster at Monika Bobinska Gallery, Modern Painters,p.88, Feb.
2010 Michael Archer, Jost Münster Museum 52, Artforum, p. 261, May 2010
2009 Cherry Smyth, Jost Münster at Monika Bobinska Gallery, Modern Painters,p.88, Feb. 2009
2008 Troy Schulze, Playdirt, CTRL Gallery, Houston, Houstonpress, Feb, 2008
Cherry Smyth, Superscope, Lounge Gallery, Art Monthly, no.314, Mar, Illus.
Fabio Naldi, Torta Strati: la giovane pittura inglese, Flash Art, Jan. 2008
Marinella Paderni, Layer Cake, Tema Celeste, December 2007
2007 Giulia Cavallaro, Layer Cake, Artkey Magazine, 23. October 2007
Martin Holman, Painting the Paradox, Fabio Tiboni Arte Contemporanea, Bologna Illus. (Exhib. Cat)
Francesca Gavin, Take away art, bbc.co.uk, 15 March 2007
Helen Sumpter, Wood for the trees and Falling Leaves, Time Out Review, 31 January
2006 Dr. Ralf Christofori Marked and Unmarked Spaces, Jost Muenster at Lounge Gallery
Ann Bukantas, John Moores 24: Contemporary Painting, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, Illus. (Exhib. Cat.)*
Lina Nilsson, Lucky 52 artists wait for John Moores judgement, Liverpool Daily Post, 5 September
Elle Decoration, Elle Decoration Now, p.29, December 2006
Markus Huber, Mark Glassner, Paravent 4, Fleisch Nr.5, Illus.
Goldsmiths Curatorial Programme, Celeste Art Prize 2006, London, Illus. (Exhib. Cat.)*
2004 Petra Kollros, Standpunkte der Malerei im Kontrast, Suedwestpresse Ulm, 12 June
Des, Das Wesen der Dinge, Suedkurier Konstanz, 13 July
Ralf Heese, Gegenstand Malerei, Neu-Ulmer Zeitung, 19 June
Petra Kollros, Den Augen nicht trauen, Suedwestpresse, Ulm 16 June
Paul Klock, Unsichere Welten, Regioartline, 10 Mrach
Rainer Braxmaier, Melkwarme Kunstmilch im Alten Dampfbad, Badisches Tagblatt, 9 March
Christiane Krause, Blick in filigrane Miniaturen, Badische Neuste Nachrichten, 8 Mach
Tara Cranswick, 22, Artspace 22, London, Illus. (Exhib. Cat.)*
Dr. Ralf Christofori, Zuhause in der Malerei’, Kunstverein Ulm
Fehler! Kontakt nicht definiert., Presence and Absence in the work of Jost Muenster, Wuerttembergischer Kunstverein, Stuttgart, Ger. (Exhib. Cat.)*
Dr. Andrea Jahn, Jost Muenster’s new Painting – or on the uncertain depths of the plane, Wuerttembergischer Kunstverein, Stuttgart, Ger. (Exhib. Cat.)*
2003 Dr.Stefan Heinlein, Junger Sueden, OEW, Galerie Albstatt, Illus. (Exhib. Cat.)*
Patricia Ellis, Trilogy stories, MA Show Catalogue, London Illus./(Exhib. Cat.)*
2002 Adrienne Braun, Glueck im Einfamilienhaus, Stuttgarter Zeitung, Illus., 7 November
Ulrich Raphael Firsching, Gespenstische Bauten, kunstmarkt.com
Dr. Andrea Jahn, 24h Wuerttembergischer Kunstverein, Stuttgart, 31 October
2001 Prof. H. Bunk Funky Bunky, Staatliche Akademie fuer Bildende Kuenste Stuttgart, (Exhib. Cat.)*
Lei, Malen, schneiden, Stuttgarter Zeitung, Feuilleton, 12.03. 2001
2000 Carmen Boeker, Ich bin kein Konkreter, Berliner Zeitung, 13 April
Gestische Abstraktionen, Galerie Zellberg, Jost M. Muenster
Zitty, Berlin, 19 April
Bauansicht, Galerie Zellberg, Ticket, Berlin, 13 April
Birgit Koelgen, Der Kanzler und die boese Fee, Schwaebische Zeitung, Stipendiaten der Kunststiftung im Kunstverein Villingen Schwenningen, Stuttgart, Illus. (Exhib. Cat.)*
Dr. Ralf Christofori, Painting as a vicious circle, Stadthaus Ulm
Drexler, Poesie des Augenblicks- absurde Momente des Alltags, Schwaebische Zeitung, 8 February
Roland Mayer, Mit Maske und Markise, Neu-Ulmer Zeitung, 4 February
Otfried Kaeppeler, Der Mensch wird zum Schattenriss, Ulmer Kulturspiegel, 8 February
Susanne Rudolph, vorort, Stadthaus Ulm (ex.Cat)* Ulm 2000. ISBN 3-934727-07-7
Petra Mostbacher-Dix, In den Raum eintauchen, Stuttgarter Zeitung; 27 January
1998 Martin Hentschel, Downtown – und andere unbekannte Orte,
Wuerttembergischer Kunstverein, Stuttgart, (Exhib. Cat.)*

Collections

Deutsche Bank

Landeskreissammlung Alb-Donau-Kreis

Sammlung Alpirsbach

Kreissparkasse Biberach

Kunstsammlung der Oberschwäbischen Elektrizitätswerke

Landessammlung Baden-Württemberg

Landesbausparkasse Südwest, Stuttgart

John Moores collection

and various private collections in Europe, Asia and the USA