About Felix Eckardt

Felix Eckardt’s paintings capture the pulse of New York almost literally: glass facades reflect the city's urban poetry, offering glimpses into its vibrant life. With meticulous precision, he distills fleeting moments, drawing the viewer… Read more

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Work Info

In Felix Eckardt’s „Selection“ series, the pulse of New York condenses into vibrant compositions of light, reflection, and movement. With devoted precision, he captures the urban poetry of the metropolis layer by layer – in carefully blended oil and acrylic paints that are both bold and translucent, like a fleeting moment.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Felix Eckardt’s paintings capture the pulse of New York almost literally: glass facades reflect the city's urban poetry, offering glimpses into its vibrant life. With meticulous precision, he distills fleeting moments, drawing the viewer into a dynamic interplay of truth, lightness, and narrative depth.
His works are more than cityscapes or snapshots—they are pulsating compositions of light, reflection, and movement. They open spaces, inviting the eye to look beyond the obvious. Rooted in painterly realism, each brushstroke conveys the city’s energy. His colors—deliberate, never incidental—are bold, intricate, and yet translucent, like a moment suspended in time. His paintings breathe dynamism, at times in bold, decisive strokes, at others in delicate, almost sketch-like gestures. This balance between structure and spontaneity defines his unmistakable signature.
Eckardt’s creative process often begins with photographs and collages—starting points that dissolve into expressive abstraction on the canvas. Layer by layer, his oil and acrylic paintings take form on heavy Belgian linen, carefully primed and sanded. Steeped in urban atmosphere, they make the city’s energy not just visible, but palpable.
Influenced by artists such as Fetting, Hödicke, Picasso, and Vuillard, Eckardt draws his greatest inspiration from life itself. He finds it in the rhythm of the streets, in music, in nature, and in the unexpected moments of daily life—allowing them to merge, raw and electric, into paintings that offer not just views, but deeper insights into the essence of the metropolis.

VITA

Felix Eckardt (*1975) studied painting and illustration at the University of Applied Sciences in Hamburg and Madrid. His passion for plein air painting emerged early on, shaping his artistic approach. After graduating, he embarked on an extensive painting journey across the United States, followed by study stays in London and New York. Initially working as an illustrator, he eventually dedicated himself entirely to painting. His works have been exhibited internationally and are part of private collections worldwide. In addition to his practice as an independent artist, Felix Eckardt is also active as an art instructor. He lives and works in Hamburg.

Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions

2012-2025    Bilder des Jahres (Atelier Felix Eckardt)
2022    “Lichtarbeit” Galerie Gudberg Nerger
2022    “Lichtarbeit” Kunsthaus Marne
2019    “Leben eins” Kunsthaus Marne
2018    Galerie Gudberg Nerger (Urban Vibes)
2015    aba (C. Schmid, F. Eckardt, because of love) Palma
2014    Ply (C. Schmid, F. Eckardt, projekt 1)
2013    Hypo Vereinsbank (München)
2012    Galerie im Elysee (Powercities)
2006-2009    Galerie Gardy Wiechern Hamburg

Group Exhibitions

2024    Kunsthaus Marne (Ins Blaue)
2024    Galerie Samuelis Baumgarte
2021    Kunsthaus Marne (Dickicht und Lichtung)
2021    15 Quadrat, Versteigerung Christies und Galerie Schimming
2020    Galerie Gudberg Nerger
2020    Kunsthaus Marne (Instant Karma)
2019    Positions Berlin (Galerie Gudberg Nerger)
2018    Fabrik der Künste Hamburg (BBK - position)
2017    Kunsthalle Frankfurt(Eyes wide open)
2017    Kunsthaus Hamburg (BBK Hamburg)
2011-2015    Art Karlsruhe (Barbara von Stechow)
2011/2014    Kunst Zürich (Barbara von Stechow)
2013    Fabrik der Künste (Buchillustratoren)
2013    Galerien im Kontorhausviertel (G. Molitoris)
2011-2014    in der Galerie Barbara von Stechow
2012    Salon der Gegenwart (Hamburg)
2011    Artfair Köln (Barbara von Stechow)
2011    Galerie Anne Moerchen
2009    Galerie Burg (Norddeutsche Realisten)
2008    Kunstmuseum Walter, Augsburg
2008    Hamburger Rathaus, Hamburger Illustratoren
2007-2009    Galerie Gardy Wiechern Hamburg

INTERVIEW

Picasso once said, “you don’t make art, you find it.” Where do you find your art?
We already talked about inspiration. I find my art in the painting process itself—paths emerge that only appear through doing, leading me to places I hadn't known before. In the unexpected future, in the crisis of a painting, I find inspiration—and that’s where art unfolds.

From an idea to its materialization: How do you approach your work?
First, I create endless photo collages, sensing what moves me. Then, I transfer those inspirations onto the canvas—starting with an underpainting and then bringing the canvas to life. Half of the process isn’t even painting—it’s observing, pausing, reassessing, and starting again.

What is your favorite book?
In the artistic realm, because it’s so inspiring and unique: “Walking Through Walls” by Marina Abramović. Otherwise, I love Arno Geiger, but right now I’m into historical books like “Höhenrausch” and “Wolfszeit” by Harald Jähner… there are just so many great books.

Which artist would you like to have coffee with and what would you discuss?
David Hockney—it would be a joy! We’d philosophize about lightness in art, and that would make me very happy.

How did you get into art?
I’ve always painted. I had no choice, and it’s still that way. Painting is an essential space in my life.

Who are the people in your surroundings that influence you?
People with a sense of humor, my partner, my friends. And I know they probably want a more specific answer—so: the people who tell me new things, ask interesting questions, and expand my horizons.

Imagine you have a time machine. Where would you go?
With a camera, 40 years into the future—to come back and show people what will happen to nature if we continue on this path.

Other than art, what are you most passionate about?
Cooking, music—everything sensory! The sea—I love it endlessly. Ice bathing, dancing, and spontaneous wordplay.

What are you working on right now?
8 to 10 paintings at the same time. It helps me stay fresh in my mind and keep my painting loose, open, and dynamic.