Ashtrays, love locks, spaghetti plates, toothbrushes, banknotes: Artist Stella Winter masterfully brings hyper-realistic motifs to life in her artworks. Stella's journey into painting, however, was rather accidental - it began during the lockdown. Before, she studied film studies in Mainz.
Describing her creative process, she shares: “The first step is photographing real objects I come across in everyday life. There are certain items that repeatedly appear in my paintings to maintain the storyline and create a sense of familiarity between the viewers and my works. After that, I consider which color or texture best fits each motif.”
We visited Stella in her studio, captured some moments, and talked with her about Instagram as a communication tool and self-branding.
You became relatively well-known in such a short time - can you tell us a bit about how it all started? How did people first become aware of you?
I started painting during the lockdown. Shortly after, I created an Instagram account for my work, simply as a place to collect my finished pieces. In my Instagram Stories, I also document the creation process. I enjoy editing videos and picking the right music for each clip. Not long after I started using Instagram, the option to upload Reels was introduced. I absolutely love filming videos.
In your painting Aftermath, we see friends gathered around a kitchen table, like an afterparty scene. Do these scenarios come from real moments you've experienced, or are they more from your imagination?
That’s exactly how we used to sit every weekend - sometimes even during the week - around our messy shared-apartment table. Over time, I developed a good sense for which motifs and scenes work well on canvas. I take real moments I've experienced and paint them on the canvas like a film scene, using oil paints.
I think there are many different paths to establish yourself in the art world right now. You just need to come up with your own strategy and know where you want your art to go.
What do the reoccurring elements in your paintings mean to you, such as teeth, ashtrays or love locks?
Most of these items are things I either aesthetically enjoy or associate with memories. I also like to keep the viewer wondering, and I love hearing people's interpretations.
How important are Instagram and TikTok for you? Do you even need a gallery to represent you anymore?
The "real" art world is a completely different place from the social media creative scene - I learned that over the past few months. Without social media, I definitely wouldn’t be where I am now. It gives you an easy way to reach a lot of people, and you’re not dependent on a gallery believing in you. Through Instagram, I’ve already sold many of my works, so I don’t necessarily need to be represented by someone to connect with potential buyers. That said, I’m currently collaborating with Galerie Greulich, which I find incredibly exciting. It also gives me access to the art scene - by that I mean getting invited to fairs and exhibitions, connecting with collectors, and exchanging ideas with other artists. Additionally, I hope that through these relationships, I’ll be able to exhibit in new places - ideally alongside other artists I admire. I think there are many different paths to establish yourself in the art world right now. You just need to come up with your own strategy and know where you want your art to go.
