Drawing Inspiration from Human Beauty with Wencke Uhl
Wencke Uhl is a Germany-based and self-identified "contemporary figurative paintress." She is inspired by human beauty, the female form, and fashion — in fact, teenage Wencke wanted to be a fashion designer. Her works "dress" women in fashionable and colorful printed fabrics, but they also capture the essence of today's contemporary, transformational times. Many depict independent and powerful feminine women freed of the male gaze.
Wencke chooses to use and experiment with acrylics, oil paint, and decoupage to create saturated color palettes, texture, shapes, and patterns. Her beautiful works have been exhibited internationally since 2020 and are also sold internationally throughout the US, Europe, and Australia.
What would you like people to know when they first come across your artworks?
It’s important to me that I paint from a female point of view, not the male gaze. You don’t need sex to sell. Or as I said in one of my artist statements: I came of age in the ’90s, a time when fashion design and fashion photography was at its height – not in the least because it was also the beginning of establishing the image of emancipated women in popular culture. This had a tremendous influence on my view of the world and how it should be.
When thinking about where you are in your journey, what are you most excited about and what keeps you inspired for the future?
Currently, I very much enjoy participating in gallery shows and art fairs, building an audience, meeting lots of creative people, and taking in the overall vibe. I also love the traveling involved for this and take a lot of inspiration from the different surroundings and people I meet.
What is the best piece of advice you've been given?
Don't let other people stop you.
If you could go to dinner with any artist, who would it be and why?
I guess Taylor Swift or Lady Gaga 😂 I find them both inherently creative and talented.
What music are you listening to these days?
A random mix of pop, RnB and a little hip hop – but whenever I’m not in the mood for the radio mix, I enjoy classic piano music.
Inside Maude Apatow’s Relaxing New York Home | Open Door | Architectural Digest
Wencke’s artistic style is easy on the eyes and fits nicely into a beautiful modern home, so we were not the least bit surprised to find out last week that Euphoria star Maude Apatow has one of Wencke’s pieces. Like Owner, Like Cat looks lovely in Maude’s NYC apartment, which you can see more of in the Architectural Digest video. You can also find the short-form clip featuring the artwork in Maude’s apartment on Wencke’s Instagram, @winnovation. Congratulations to Wencke on the sale and feature!
The Sound of Silence, 2023
