Lisa Kohl explores the poetic concept of non-places and transitional spaces, focusing on themes of ephemerality, disappearance, and the imaginary. Her artistic practice integrates field research, documentation, staging, and visual poetry, emphasising absence, movement, and situational intervention.
Through her work, she examines fundamental questions about human existence, vulnerability, and the absurdity of the human condition. Her focus on social spaces devoid of identity, border areas, and the notion of the no man’s land reflects a political and poetic perspective on displacement and transition. Personal encounters and narratives reveal remnants of traversed areas, tracing a delicate line between the visible and invisible and exploring fragile, imaginary spaces as sites of survival, resistance which resonate with our collective memory.
A graduate of École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Visuels - La Cambre, Brussels (Belgium), Kohl’s work has been exhibited internationally in venues such as Palazzo Fortuny for the European Month of Photography (Italy, 2023), Bugno Art Gallery (Italy, 2023), Imago Lisboa Photography Festival (Portugal, 2022), and Rencontres de la Photographie d’Arles (France, 2021).
Solo shows include an ongoing exhibition at La Prairie (Switzerland, 2024-25), and IN ABSENCE at Reuter Bausch Gallery (Luxembourg, 2023). Group exhibitions include DIS-PLACED at Konschthal Contemporary Art Space (Luxembourg, 2024) TRUE FICTION at Arendt House (Luxembourg, 2024) and the grantee show at Künstlerhaus Bethanien (Berlin, 2022). Kohl has participated in residencies such as Villa Aurora in Los Angeles (2019) and Künstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin (2022).
Her accolades include the Robert Schuman Art Prize (2023), the StART-up Studio Award by OEuvre Nationale de Secours Grande-Duchesse Charlotte Foundation (2021), and the Pierre Werner Award (2020). Her works are part of notable collections like the IFA Art Collection (Berlin) and Villa Aurora & Thomas Mann House (Berlin and Los Angeles). The artist has recently been nominated for the Prix Pictet 2025. She is currently based between Luxembourg and Germany.
The works are intimately tied by their common inquiry into our existence and the human condition. The poignant creations of Lisa Kohl challenge our perceptions, stir our emotions, and prompt us to contemplate human vulnerability, as well as our fears and aspirations. The artistic work presented here invites dialogue and reflects the concerns of those who remain at the margins of society. Its visual, spatial, and auditory presence generates striking experiences that allow us to recall that which connects us.
Testimonial of Simon Santschi, Director of the European Academy of Fine Arts in Treves
Jury member for the Robert Schumann Art Prize 2023
https://agora.ifa.de/de/kuenstler_in/lisa-kohl-331813
https://www.konschthal.lu/en/exhibitions/dis-placed
https://www.monopol-magazin.de/lisa-kohl-bekommt-kunstpreis-robert-schuman
https://shop.art-magazin.de/de_DE/einzelhefte/einzelausgaben/art-03-2023/2111427.html
https://www.bethanien.de/artists/lisa-kohl
https://www.rencontres-arles.com/en/expositions/view/1007/daniel-reuter-lisa-kohl
https://www.rencontres-arles.com/en/artistes/view/787/lisa-kohl
https://www.vatmh.org/en/grant-recipient-details/grant/424-lisa-kohl.html
https://pointcontemporain.com/portrait-artiste-lisa-kohl/
https://loeildelaphotographie.com/en/arles-2021-letz-arles-lisa-kohl-erre-dv/
https://letzarles.lu/edition-2021
https://www.konschthal.lu/en/exhibitions/letz-arles
https://cna.public.lu/fr/events/2021/letzarles2021.html
https://www.land.lu/page/article/119/338119/DEU/index.html
https://www.culture.lu/blog/articles/le-fabuleux-destin-de/le-fabuleux-destin-de-lisa-kohl
https://reportage.mdr.de/nachste-generation-lisa-kohl#12135
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2025
Rethinking Photography, EMOP | European Month of Photography, Reuter Bausch Art Gallery, Luxembourg (LU)
Soloshow, curated by director of art Janina Saile-Mattli, Clinique La Prairie, Montreux (CHE)
2024
DIS-PLACED, curated by Charlotte Masse & Christian Mosar, Konschthal Esch – Contemporary Art Space, Esch (LU)
True Fiction, curated by Paul di Felice & Claire di Felice, Café crème asbl, Arendt House, Luxembourg (LU)
Soloshow, curated by director of art Janina Saile-Mattli, Clinique La Prairie, Montreux (CHE)
Luxembourg Art Week, represented by Reuter Bausch Art Gallery, Luxembourg (LU)
2023
Ripensare l'identità, EMOP, Oculus Photography Festival, curated by Claire Baldo & Paul di Felice, Palazzo Fortuny, Venice (IT)
Ripensare il paesaggio, EMOP, Oculus Photography Festival, Bugno Art Gallery, Venice (IT)
Luxembourg Art Week, represented by Reuter Bausch Art Gallery, Luxembourg (LU)
Bienvenue à la Villa - Collection 2023, Villa Vauban, Luxembourg (LU)
OVNi Festival, cosmopolis: collaboration between Casino – Contemporary Art Forum & Cultural Mission of Luxembourg in Paris, Nice (FR)
Soloshow IN ABSENCE, Reuter Bausch Art Gallery, Luxembourg (LU)
Robert Schuman Art Award, nomination by the curator Sandra Schwender, Stadtmuseum Simeonstift, Treves (DE)
RETHINKING IDENTITY, EMOP | European Month of Photography, Cercle Cité, Luxembourg (LU)
2022
BLINDSPOT, grantee show, Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin (DE), subsidized by Kultur | lx (LU)
Exit Exil – Walk and Talk, App, Villa Aurora & Thomas Mann House e.V., Berlin (DE), Los Angeles (USA)
Disturbances, Imago Lisboa Photography Festival, Lisbon (P)
Focus Visual Arts Luxembourg, Casino, selected by the curator Margot Delalande, 49 Nord 6 Est - Frac Lorraine (F), supported by Kultur | lx, Arts Council Luxembourg (LU)
2021
Révélation(s) Preview, Casino – Contemporary Art Forum, Luxembourg (LU)
LAND(E)SCAPE, curated by Danielle Igniti, EMOP | European Month of Photography, Abbaye de Neumünster (LU)
ERRE, Les Rencontres de la Photographie d'Arles, curated by Danielle Igniti, Lët‘z Arles, Chapelle de la Charité, Arles (F)
PASSAGE, Exhibition panel, Partnership between Les Rencontres d’Arles and SNCF, Gare de Lyon, Paris (F)
ERRE, curated by Danielle Igniti, Konschthal Esch – Contemporary Art Space, Esch-sur-Alzette (LU)
Winners of the Pierre Werner Award 2020, Gallery Schlassgoart, Esch-sur-Alzette (LU)
2020
Salon du CAL, Cercle Artistique de Luxembourg - asbl, Tramsschapp, Luxembourg (LU)
CUEVA, Bâtiment 4, Esch-sur-Alzette (LU)
2019
Villanacht 2019, Villa Aurora & Thomas Mann House e.V., Komische Oper, Berlin (DE)
EXIT, Video-Sound-Performance, Rotondes, Luxembourg (LU)
Teilchenbeschleuniger, Halle 14, Baumwollspinnerei, Leipzig (DE)
Die Zeiten ver-gehen, scholarship holders exhibition, Art Foundation Saxony-Anhalt (DE)
The Place, It Has a Name, project FREIRAUM with Elsa Rauchs and Ian De Toffoli, Goethe and Pierre Werner
Institution, Theatre of Kasemattes, Luxembourg (LU)
2018
Work presentation with artist talk, OPENHOUSE, ZK/U, Berlin (DE)
The Place, It Has a Name, project FREIRAUM, Drugo more, Rijeka (HRV)
OPEN BORDERS, European cultural days 2018, BBK, Karlsruhe (DE)
Parcours 2018, Diplome der Kunst, Art Foundation Saxony-Anhalt (DE)
2017
SURD, Gallery Halka Sanat, Istanbul (T)
AWARDS | GRANTS | RESIDENCIES
2024
Nomination for Prix Pictet 2025, by Marion Vergin and Anastasia Chaguidouline, Cercle Cité, Luxembourg (LU)
Artist residency, Squatfabrik, Kulturfabrik – cultural centre in sinergy with Bridderhaus - artist residency, Esch (LU)
Creation grant, Ministry of Culture,Luxembourg
2023
Winner of Robert Schuman Art Award 2023, Quattropole, Treves (DE)
selected by a jury composed of: Nathalie Filser, Marlène Kreins, Dr Gabriele Lohberg, Dr Berrnd Mohnhaupt, Chiara Parisi, Simon Santschi, Leo Scheidt, Fanny Weinquin
2022
Artist residency of 6 months, Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin (DE)
selected by a jury composed of : Claudine Hemmer, Clément Minighetti, Mike Bourscheid
subsidized by Kultur | lx, Arts Council Luxembourg (LU)
Grant NEUSTART KULTUR, Foundation Kunstfonds Bonn (DE)
Nomination for Edward Steichen Award, CNA – Centre national de l‘audiovisuel (LU)
Nomination for Karl Schmidt-Rottluff Stipendium, Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes (DE)
2021
Les Rencontres de la Photographie d‘Arles, Lët‘z Arles, selected by the jury composed of :
Paul Di Felice, Marta Gili, Danielle Igniti, Steph Meyers, Sam Stourdzé, Michèle Walerich, Christoph Wiesner
Grant CNA – Aide à la création et diffusion en photographie 2021, Centre national de l‘audiovisuel (LU)
Grant NEUSTART KULTUR, Kunstfonds Foundation, Bonn (DE)
2020
2019
2018
Artist Residency, Villa Aurora & Thomas Mann House e.V., Los Angeles (USA), kindly subsidized by Art Foundation
Saxony-Anhalt (DE)
2017
Studio Scholarship Apartmani, Istanbul (T), kindly subsidized by Burg Giebichenstein – University of Art and Design (DE)
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
IFA – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen, Stuttgart / Berlin (DE)
Villa Aurora & Thomas Mann House, Berlin (DE) / Los Angeles (USA)
MNHA – National museum for archeology, history and art, Luxembourg city (LU)
Ministry of Culture, Luxembourg city (LU)
CNA – Centre national de l'audiovisuel, Dudelange (LU)
Villa Vauban, Luxembourg city (LU)
PUBLICATIONS | CATALOGUES
2025
Catalogue of solo exhibition, published by La Prairie, Montreux (CHE)
Catalogue Rethinking Photography, EMOP 2025 | 10th European Month of Photography, Café-Crème asbl (LU)
2024
Booklet Arendt We All, group exhibition TRUE FICTIONS, published by Arendt House (LU)
Booklet DIS-PLACED, published by Konschthal Esch – Contemporary art space (LU)
9 Lives magazine, La poésie fragile de Lisa Kohl, carte blanche à Florence Reckinger-Taddeï (FR)
2023
Artmagazine ART, Edition 03/2023, article by Gunnar Lützow, Hamburg (DE)
Magazine BE 30#, article by Christoph Tannert, Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin (DE)
Magazine Monopol, Robert Schuman Art Award, dpa, Berlin (DE)
2022
Catalogue Disturbances, edited and published by Imago Lisboa Photography Festival, Lisbon (P)
2021
2020
Artist book ERRE, edition of 600 copies and a special edition of 150 copies with a print of SHELTER – No 2 of the series, published by Lët‘z Arles and Centre national de l‘audiovisuel (LU)
PROJECTS IN COLLABORATION
2024-2026
Scenography for Biergerbühn, by Elsa Rauchs and Claire Wagener, ILL production
Grand Théâtre and Kulturfabrik (LU)
2020-2022
Scenography for Amer Amer, by Jérôme Michez and Elsa Rauchs, Theater of Esch, Esch-sur-Alzette (LU)
2019
Visuals for Footnotes, by Claire Thill and Jenny Beacraft, ILL production
Theater of Esch, TNL, Abbaye Neumünster, Luxembourg (LU)
2018
Performance Project The Place, It Has a Name with Elsa Rauchs and Ian De Toffili, Rijeka (HVR)
Luxembourg (LU)
2017
Short movie FAITH, collaboration with Filmmaker Rahim Unlu, Istanbul (T)