Claudia Terstappen studied German Literature and Philosophy at the Heinrich Heine University and Sculpture and Photography at the Art Academy in Duesseldorf, Germany and is now a practicing artist of more than 20 years standing with an impressive string of international exhibitions, awards and publications to her name. She has lived and worked in Germany, Great Britain, Spain and the US. Her artistic work focuses on the interrelationship between religion, superstition and science in relation to place, culture and time.

The main inspirations for her work have been voyages to Brazil, Colombia, Canada, Japan, the US (Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah), Australia, Iceland and Spain. These destinations were chosen for their traces of ancient and modern belief systems, mythical stories, holy landscapes and spiritual thinking. Therefore work and travel have always been joint elements in her life. She has a huge collection of religious items from all over the world that inspire her work. These objects emphasize cross cultural differences of belief systems.

In the last few years she has added environmental concerns to her subject matter. Series including, Dark Nights and After Life (Roadkill) question our relationship to animals and address ongoing changes in our environment that threaten both, animals and plants.

1959 born in Germany, moved to Australia 2004
1979-81 Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, German Study of German Literature and Philosophy  1980-87 Staatliche Kunstakademie Düsseldorf Sculpture with Architecture - Qualification: MA
1988 Visiting Lecturer at Gesamthochschule Wuppertal, Bergische Universität, Germany
1988 Moved to London
1991-94 Lecturer at The Slade School of Fine Art, London (Mixed Media 1991-92 and Sculpture 1991-94) Lecturer at Winchester School of Art (Fine Art 1993-94). Visiting Lecturer a Goldsmith College, London, Kent Institute of Art and Design, Canterbury (1991-93) Chelsea School of Art, London. Schule für Gestaltung, Zürich, Switzerland The Slade School of Fine Art - Summer School (1993-94). Hochschule für Architektur und Bauwesen, Universität Weimar, Fakultät Gestaltung, Germany Hochschule für Bildende Künste, Hamburg, Germany. Fachhochschule Dortmund, Germany.Lecturer at the Berliner Sommerakademie, Berlin, Germany1994 Moved to Barcelona 1994 -
1994-98 Visiting Lecturer at:
The Slade School of Fine Art, London
State University of New York, USA
University of Maryland, USA
Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, USA

2000-03 Lecturer at Europäische Akademie Trier, Germany
1999-00 Visiting Lecturer at: The Slade School of Fine Art, London
Royal College of Art, London
 University, Ruskin School of Art
2003 Visiting Lecturer at: Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.
Bergische Universität Bonn, Germany
Charles Darwin University, NT,  Austrlia (at 24H Art Gallery)
2003 Directora del Máster Europeu de Belles Arts a Barcelona, Southampton University / Winchester School of Art
2003-5 External Examiner at The Slade School of Fine Art (Media Department)
2004 Moved to Melbourne
2004 - Current Professor of Fine Arts at Monash University Faculty of Art Design & Architecture (MADA), Melbourne, Australia
2010-12 Head of Fine Art, MADA, Monash University

AWARDS.

2016 Artist in Residence, Flinders Island, Australia 2015/16 University Fellowship (5 months) Baptist University Hong Kong 2011 Finalist for the Bowness Photography Prize, Monash Gallery of Art, Melbourne
2009 Finalist for the Albury Art Prize Finalist for the 36th Alice Prizeinalist fort the Josephine Ulrick& Win Schubert Photography Award
2005 Finalist for the BMW Photo-Prize, Louvre, Paris
2004 Artist in Residence, Charles Darwin University, Darwin
2001 Artist in Residence, Fundación Valparaiso,Valparaiso Spain Grant and Research Leave Award from the Arts and Humanities Research Board, London
1999 Grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Board, London Award from Kunstfond Bonn, Germany Grant for a project by: Staatskanzelei Düsseldorf, Germany Stiftung Kunst und Kultur des Landes NRW, Düsseldorf, Germany
1998 Bronze Prize of the Triennale for Sculpture in Osaka, Japan
1996 Artist in Residence, Direction régionale des affaires culturelles, France
1993 Projektförderung der Stiftung Kunst und Kultur des Landes NRW (support for a project) for Spain in 1994
1990 Ida Gerhardi Prize, Germany DAAD Scholarship for Britain (one year, London)
1989 Förderpreis des Landschaftsverbandes Westfalen-Lippe,   Westfälisches Museumsamt Münster984 Award for open-air sculpture, Landesgartenschau Hamm, Germany

WORKS IN COLLECTIONS.

Museum of Fine Art Houston, Texas USA
Osaka Prefectual Government, Japan
Collection of Seika University, Kyoto, Japan
Museum DKM, Germany
Collection Grothe, Germany
Collection Heiting, Germany
Collection Schneckenburger, Germany
Kunstverein Hasselbach E.V., Germany
Fundación Coca Cola, Spain
Colección Rafael Tous de Arte Contemporáneo, Spain
Colección Spectrum Sotos, Spain
Museum La Coruña, Spain
Colección Olor Visual, Spain Warrnambool Art Gallery, Australia Monash University Library Collection, Melbourne, Australia
Art Bank, Cologne, Germany
Max-Planck-Institute, Berlin, Germany

SOLO EXHIBITIONS.

2020 Susan Boutwell gallery, Munich, Germany 2019 Dominik Mersch Gallery, Sydney, Australia 2018 Galeria Palma Dotze, Barcelona, Spain 2017 MAMA – Murray Art Museum, Albury, Australia 2016 Warrnambool Art Gallery, "Culture Spirit Identity", Australia and VAC – La Trobe University Visual Art Centre, Bendigo and LUMA – La Trobe University Museum of Art, Melbourne 2014 Galeria PalmaDotze, Barcelona, Spain        2013 Monash Gallery of Art (retrospective), Melbourne     Conny Dietzschold Gallery, Sydney
2011-12 Museum DKM, Duisburg (retrospective), Germany
2011 Galeria PalmaDotze, Barcelona, Spain
2010 Conny Dietzschold Gallery, Sydney
Galerie Caren Jones, Cologne
Place Gallery, MelbournE
2009 Conny Dietzschold Gallery, Sydney
Galeria Palma Dotze, Barcelona, Spain
2008 Place Gallery, Melbourne
Galerie Caren Jones, Cologne, Germany
2007 Conny Dietzschold Gallery, Sydney
Galerie im Körnerpark, Berlin
2006 Sala H, Vic (Barcelona)
Galeria Palma Dotze, Barcelona, Spain
CCC B, Centre Cultural Contemporani de Barcelona
2005 Galeria Forum, Tarragona
Faculty Gallery, Monash University, Melbourne
Iglesia de la Universidad, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Metrònom, Fundació Rafael Tous, Barcelona
2004 Galeria Palma Dotze, Barcelona, Spain
CDU Gallery, Darwin, Australia
Gallery Fleur, Kyoto, Japan
2003 NT Centre for Contemporary Art, Darwin, Australia
Galeria Kowasa, Barcelona
2002 Städtische Galerie Im Rathauspark, Gladbeck, Germany
Galeria Spectrum, Zaragoza, Spain
Galerie Hellebrand, Duisburg, German
Stiftung DKM, Duisburg, Germany
Galeria garage regium, Madrid
2000 El Metronom, Fundación Rafael Tous, Barcelona
1999 Galerie Karl Plotzke, Düsseldorf
Goethe Institut London
Galeria Palma Dotze, Barcelona, Spain
1998 Centre Culturel, Riberac France
Galeria panorama, Barcelona
1997 Gallery, State University, New York
96 Grand Street, New York
Centre Culturel, France
Open Studios, Barcelona
1996 Raum 1, Düsseldorf
96 Grand St., New York
1995 ´Panorama´, Barcelona
1994 Raum 1, Düsseldorf
Kunstraum Wuppertal, Germany
Galerie 102, Düsseldorf
`Cinco Orejas Escuchando...` Installation-project, Huelva, Spain
Fundacion Municipal de Cultura, Huelva, Spain
1993 Museumsgalerie Gotha, Germany
Galerie H. Reckermann, Cologne
1992 The Slade Gallery, London
Förderkoje (prize-exhibition) with Galerie H. Reckermann,
Artfair Cologne
1989 Skulpturenmuseum Glaskasten Marl, Germany
Bielefelder Kunstverein, Museum Waldhof, Germany
Museum Abtei Liesborn, Wadersloh, Germany
Galerie H. Reckermann, Cologne
1988 Emmericher Kunstverein, Haus im Park, Germany
1987 Galerie Tropeninstitut, Düsseldorf
Galerie Monochrom, Aachen, Germany
Raum 1, Düsseldorf
1986 Franzen Zollhaus, Düsseldorf, Germany
1985  Galerie Linie, Moers, Germany

GROUP EXHIBITIONS.

2020 Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts, New York City PHotoEspaña, International Festival of Photography and Visual Arts of Madrid 2019 Dominik Mersch Gallery, Sydney London Print Studios, GB 2018 Museum DKM, Duisburg “Kunst und Kohle”, Germany 2016-17 Galeria Palma Dotze, Barcelona ,Spain Mornington Peninsular Regional Gallery 2015 Galeria Palma Dotze, Barcelona, Spain 2014 Kumu Art Museum, 16th Tallin Print Triennal, Estonia.
Zona Maco, Contemporary Art Fair, Mexico City
2011 Maroonda Art Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
Plimsol Gallery, Hobart, Australia
36th Alice Prize exhibition, Alice Springs, Australia
Josephine Ulrick& Win Schubert Photography Award
exhibition, Cowra Regional Art Gallery, Australia
Galeria Palma Dotze, Barcelona, Spain
2009 Conny Dietzschold Gallery, Sydney (Langue Froid, curated by Conny Dietzschold and Bill Wright)
Darmstädter Tage der Fotografie, Designhaus, Darmstadt
Albury Art Prize exhibition, Australia
Gallery Caren Jones, Cologne
Melbourne Convention centre, Australia
Museum DKM, Duisburg, Germany
Conny Dietzschold Gallery, Sydney
Cubus Kunsthalle, Duisburg, Germany
Mornington Peninsular Regional Art Gallery, Australia
La Trobe University Bendigo, Australia
Flinders University Art Museum, Australia
Städtische Galerie Lüdenscheid, Germany
Macquarie University, Sydney
2007 Loop, Video Art Festival, Barcelona, Spain
CCCB, Centro Contemporaneo Cultural de Barcelona, Spain
Musee des Confluences/Departement du Rhone, Lyon, France
Jones & Truebenbach Gallery, Cologne, Germany
2006 St Patricks Cathedral, Melbourne
2005 World Financial Center Gallery, N.Y.C., USA
Womans Museum Dallas, Texas, USA
Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans, USA
Simmons College, Boston, USA
Louvre, Paris
2004 Tallinn Art hall, Estonia
Akureyri Museum, Iceland
Gerduburg Cultural Centre, Rejkavik
Cultural Centre, City of Athens, Greece
Museum Schloß Morsbroich Leverkusen, Germany
Museum Doko, Cologne, Germany
2002 Mobile Museum, Alabama, USA
Alexandria Museum, USA
La Lonja, Galeria Spectrum Sotos, Zaragoza
T20, Murcia, Spain
Sendai, Japan
2001 Sala d´exposicions, International University Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
Museo La Verreina, Barcelona
University of Maryland Gallery, USA
Tuscon Museum, Arizona, USA
Brenau University, Georgia, USA
Torano Notte e Giorno, Torano/Carara, Italy
2000 Museum Bochum, Germany
White Colums, New York City
Arts Festival Penedès, Spain
Flint Institute, Michigan, USA
Delta Axis, USA
1999 Museum Doko, Köln
Kunsthalle der Europäischen Akademie Trier
1998 Kunsthalle der Europäischen Akademie Trier “Construint el Paisatge”Primavera Fotografica,  Barcelona   Tallers Oberts, Barcelona
Museum Doko, Cologne
Triennale of Sculpture, Osaka, Japan  
1997 `Se Alquila´, Barcelona
Tallers Oberts, Barcelona
“The Things that we do”, Barcelona
1996 “Letzter Aufguß”, Düsseldorf 
1995 Galeria de Arte del Colegio de Arquitectos en Malaga, Spain
East International´, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich
Galeria Cavecanem, Sevilla, Spain
1994 Howard Garden Gallery, Cardiff, Britain
Flaxman Gallery, Stoke on Trent, Britain
University of Humberside, Hull, Britain
The Slade Gallery, London
Deutsches Klingenmuseum Solingen, Germany
Bergische Kunstausstellung, Germany
Galerie Gaby Kraushaar, Düsseldorf 
1992 ´East´, Norwich Gallery, Britain (with catalogue)
´Globe´, Düsseldorf (with catalogue)
Colchester and District Visual Arts Trust, Britain
1991 Goethe Institute, London
Malania Basarab Gallery, London
Glück Auf, exhibition-project, colepit, Moers, Germany
1990 ´Kunstware´, Wuppertal, Germany
Galerie Carol Johnssen, Munich, Germany
1986 Märkisches Stipendium für Bildende Kunst 1987 Lüdenscheid, Germany (with catalogue)
1985 Galerie Suspect, Amsterdam, Holland
1984 ´Kumma wat dat da dampft´, Düsseldorf
1983 ´Draussen´(Óutside´), Nordpark Düsseldorf
1982  Kunstmuseum Düsseldorf