Johannes Ulrich Kubiak
°1961 Annaberg (D)
lives and works in Antwerp (B)
Johannes Ulrich Kubiak creates richly layered paintings and works on paper in which abstraction and subtle figuration quietly converge. Working horizontally, he builds his compositions from underdrawings that gradually fade during the process, leaving only a ghostlike structure beneath the surface.
Using a restrained palette of pure pigments — red, yellow, and blue — combined with tempera, he achieves a rare density and emotional resonance through multiple translucent layers of colour.
Through countless delicate brushstrokes, Kubiak generates shifting fields of red, green, purple, brown, yellow, and blue, allowing surface and depth to interact continuously. His works reveal and conceal in equal measure: translucent veils open into spacious, atmospheric zones, while denser passages gather into tactile topographies.
Motifs emerge and dissolve — echoing natural processes, organic growth, and fleeting structures — yet never settle into fixed forms. This continuous oscillation gives his paintings their meditative character, inviting the viewer into a slow, contemplative encounter where light, rhythm, and transformation unfold over time.
Kubiak’s practice spans large-scale canvases and intimate aquarelle works, all marked by a refined sensitivity to colour, gesture, and the gradual unfolding of imagery and emotion. His work is represented in numerous private collections across the Benelux, France, and Germany, as well as in institutional collections including Deutsche Bank, Bundesbank, Kunstsammlung Sachsen, and the Berlinische Galerie.
Request available works
Website of the artist: http://johannes-ulrich-kubiak.de
Gallery Shows
Solo & duo
2018 This is not a printed book (duo)
2023 array of primitive values
2025 Extra Muros - Rauch-Hof, Stainz (A)
Group
2023 10 Years, what a surprise! Part 1
Extended Curriculum Vitae
Solo and duo exhibitions
2026 - upcoming - Drawing Now, Paris (FR) and Solo exhibition during May 2026 in our gallery in Antwerp
2024 - Kubiak & Rauch, 'Von wundersamen wesen und Landschaften', Brandenburgische Landesmuseum für moderne Kunst BLMK, Cottbus (D)
- Art Antwerp, upcoming, with Nel Bonte (Antwerp)
2023 - 'array of primitive values', Eva Steynen Gallery, Antwerp (B)
2020 - 'starbuck', solo show, Eva Steynen Gallery, Antwerp (B)
2019 - 'prefab', solo show, Shoobil gallery, Antwerp (B)
2018 - 'This is not a printed book', duo show with Fred Michiels, Eva Steynen.Deviation(s) gallery, Brussels (B)
- 'kargo', Galerie Borssenanger, Chemnitz, (D)
- 'a vacant mind', one evening solo project, SECONDroom, Antwerpen (B)
2017 - 'Que peindre?' with Aurélie Gravas, Eva Steynen.Deviation(s) gallery, Antwerp, (B)
2016 - 'Sammlung, Flussabwärts mit Häusern', Galerie Borssenanger, Chemnitz, (D)
2015 - 'Sammlung', Galerie Born, Berlin, (D)
2014 - 'Flechten', Galerie Borssenanger Hamburg, (D)
2012 - Kunstverein Glückstadt, duo with Vincent Schubarth, Glückstadt, (D)
2011 - Galerie Borssenanger, Chemnitz, (D)
- Galerie Borssenanger, Hamburg, (D)
- Kunst bei Conrad, Berlin, (D)
2010 - duo with Nikos Valsamakis, Galerie Born/Darß, (D)
2009 - duo with Trak Wendisch, Kunstraum Heiddorf , Neu Kaliss, (D)
2009 - Westwerk, Hamburg (D)
2008 - Bautzener Kunstverein, Bautzen (D)
2007 - Galerie Borssenanger, Chemnitz, (D)
2006 - Kunstraum Heiddorf, (D)
2003 - 'LWOP' (life without parole), Kubiak & Rauch, California State Prison - Los Angeles/Lancaster (USA)
2003 - Galerie Hubertus Wunschik, Kubiak & Rauch, Mönchengladbach (D)
2002 - 'Mittel gegen die Furcht', Kubiak & Rauch, Brecht-Haus Berlin, (D)
- 'Als der Mond noch bei der Erde war', Kubiak & Rauch, Galerie Eva Poll, Berlin, (D)
2000 - 'Mittel gegen die Furcht', Kunstraum Neuruppin, (D)
- 'Die Flucht des Gedankens', Galerie Helm/Reiswig, Esslingen, (D)
1999 - 'Führungen hinters Licht' Kubiak & Rauch, Galerie Schuster und Scheuermann, Berlin, (D)
- 'Neue photographische Arbeiten' (K&R), Galerie Schuster, Frankfurt/M., (D)
- 'Bilder + Grenzfälle' (K&R), Galerie der Stadt Sindelfingen, (D)
- Brandenburgische Kunstsammlung, Cottbus, (D)
1998 - 'Lichtspiele, 'Kubiak & Rauch, Galerie Schuster, Frankfurt/M., (D)
- Kubiak & Rauch, Galerie Schuster u. Scheuermann, Berlin, (D)
1997 - 'Der geschlossene Raum' (K&R), Land Brandenburg Lotto GmbH, Potsdam, (D)
- 'Labor',Kubiak & Rauch, Rheinische Landesklinik Bedburg-Hau/Kleve, (D)
- Kubiak & Rauch, Galerie Hubertus Wunschik, Mönchengladbach, (D)
1996 - Kubiak & Rauch, Galerie Art-Spectrum, Würzburg, (D)
- 'Das Leben im Ungeliebten Haus', Kubiak & Rauch, Galerie Hubertus Wunschik Düsseldorf, (D)
- 'Hunger & Thirst', Kubiak & Rauch, TBA Exhibition Space, (K&R), Chicago, (USA)
1995 - '08/15 German Physiognomies and Palmistry”, Kubiak & Rauch, Beacon St. Gallery, Chicago, (USA)
1994 - 'Schwere und Moribunde' Kubiak & Rauch, Galerie Weisser Elefant , Berlin, (D)
1992 - 'Hunting Grounds' (K&R), Galerie Knaak ’99 Berlin, (D)
Group exhibitions
2024 - Art on Paper, Brussels (B)
- Kubiak&Rauch Die verlorene Spiegel, Lausitz Festival & BLMK Cottbus, Neues Schloss, Bad Muskau (D)
2023 - Luxembourg Art Week with Eva Steynen Gallery (LU)
- Art on Paper Brussels with Eva Steynen Gallery (B)
- Art Rotterdam with Eva Steynen Gallery (NL)
- 10 Years, what a surprise! Part 1, Eva Steynen Gallery, Antwerpen (B)
2022 - 25 Years Gallerie Borssenanger, Chemnitz (D)
- Touch-Lines #3 , Eva Steynen Gallery, Antwerpen (B)
2020 - Yes, we are open!, Eva Steynen.Deviation(s), Antwerpen (B)
- Gallerie Borssenanger, Chemnitz (D)
- Walk around the park, online exhibition, Eva Steynen.Deviation(s), Antwerpen (B)
2019 - Abstracte onschatbare geschilderde gedachten, West-Malle (B)
- Shining Ground, Eva Steynen.Deviation(s), Antwerpen (B)
2018 - Antwerp-Chemnitz Wintersalon, Galerie Borssenanger, Chemnitz (D)
2017 - Shadow pieces, Eva Steynen.Deviation(s), Antwerp (B)
2016 - Wintersalon, Galerie Borssenanger, Chemnitz (D)
2015 - Wintersalon, Galerie Borssenanger, Chemnitz (D)
2001 - 'Rohkunstbau / Information.Irritation', Schloss Groß Leuthen (D)
1999 - 'Zeitgenössische Kunst aus Brandenburg', Staatskanzlei Potsdam (D)
1998 - 'Einblicke', Sammlung Deutsche Bundesbank, Frankfurt/M., (D)
1996 - Partie II, Brandenburgische Kunsttage/Drewen, (D)
1995 - 'Der Bittsteller', 'Der Herzog auf dem Kirschkern…', Der Herzog Schlossmuseum Friedenstein Gotha, (D)
- 'Neun Köpfe', 'Der Herzog auf dem Kirschkern…', Chateau Villeneuve-Lembron, (FR)
1993 - Galerie In Situ, Aalst, (B)
Art Fairs
2025 - Art Antwerp (B)
- Luxembourg Art Week with Eva Steynen.Deviation(s) (LU)
2024 - Art Antwerp (B)
- Luxembourg Art Week with Eva Steynen.Deviation(s) (LU)
- Art on Paper Brussels with Eva Steynen.Deviation(s) (B)
2023 - Luxembourg Art Week with Eva Steynen.Deviation(s) (LU)
- Art on Paper Brussels with Eva Steynen.Deviation(s) (B)
- Art Rotterdam with Eva Steynen.Deviation(s), Rotterdam (NL)
2022 - Positions Berlin Art Fair with Eva Steynen.Deviation(s), Berlin (D)
- Art Rotterdam with Eva Steynen.Deviation(s), Rotterdam (NL)
- Art on Paper Brussels, with Eva Steynen.Deviation(s), Brussels (B)
2021 - Positions Berlin Art Fair with Eva Steynen.Deviation(s), Berlin (D)
- Art Rotterdam with Eva Steynen.Deviation(s), Rotterdam (NL)
2020 - Positions Berlin Art Fair with Eva Steynen.Deviation(s), berlin (D)
2019 - Paper Positions Basel Art Fair with Benoît Felix, Eva Steynen.Deviation(s), Basel (CH)
- Positions Berlin Art Fair with Eva Steynen.Deviation(s), berlin (D)
- Art The Hague with Eva Steynen.Deviation(s), Den Haag (NL)
2015 - 2018 Art Karlsruhe with Galerie Borssenanger, Karlsruhe (D)
- Alexander Kluge (1997): 'Wie macht man Bilder? Zu den Installationen von Ulrich Kubiak und Ludwig Rauch', Katalogtext. Land Brandenburg Lotto Gmbh, Potsdam.
- Maribel Königer (1996): 'Der Herzog auf dem Kirschkern…“, Kunstforum International Bd. 132, 1996
- Christoph Doswald (1997): 'Physiognomik? Handleserei? Reality is a Fake', Katalogtext, TBA Exhibition Space, Chicago, (USA)
- Alexander Kluge (1995): 'Wie macht man Bilder?' Film, Prime Time – Sat 1,
- Meinhard Michael (1995): 'Voyeure, Connaisseure', Neue Bildende Kunst 02/1995
- Karen Rudolph (1995): 'Kubiak & Rauch', Katalogtext, 'Der Herzog auf dem Kirschkern...'