I wish you lots of pleasure with my art
Today I can look back on more than 50 years of activity as an artist. My works normally emerge from self-created projects, which are characterized by an important topic or a fascinating technique. Many projects run parallel over several years.
The most noteworthy projects include photo collages, psycho-portraits, stylized nude pictures, double-sided room dividers and textile work, some of which - and more - can be seen on this website.
The project irrelichter, an absurd and at the same time colourful caricature of traditional german domestic lighting methods, can be seen on www.irrelichter.eu.
Solo exhibition in the Kunstsaal in Soest
„Die Erben Wilhelm Morgners“ in the Art Museum Wilhelm Morgner, Soest
German-Dutch Exhibition „TREFF 2“ in the Kulturforum Neu-St.Thomä, Soest
Galerie Künstlerhaus Bem Adam, Soest
„Das kleine Format“ im Kunstsaal, Soest
„Offene Ateliers“, Soest
„Sicher ist, dass nichts sicher ist. Selbst das nicht.“ in the Kunstsaal, Soest
Galerie Künstlerhaus Bem Adam, Soest
„Illegaler Weihnachtsmarkt“ in the Künstlerhaus Bem Adam, Soest
„Offene Ateliers“, Soest
„K10“ in the Morgnerhaus, Soest
Website to the project „Irrelichter“
„Das kleine Format“ in the Kunstsaal, Soest
„Engelsgeflüster“ in the Kunstsaal, Soest
„Illegaler Weihnachtsmarkt“ in the Künstlerhaus Bem Adam, Soest
„Das kleine Format“ in the Kunstsaal, Soest
„Illegaler Weihnachtsmarkt“ in the Künstlerhaus Bem Adam, Soest
Presentation of „Irrelichter“ to Lori Waxman, American art critic,
dOKUMENTA13
Every year at the „Illegalen Weihnachtsmarkt“ (illegal Christmas Market) in the Kunsthaus Bem Adam
Atelier Walter Jasper, Wadersloh
Café Sauerland, Soest
Restaurant Seehof, Möhnesee
Solo exhibition in the Wilhelm-Morgner-Haus, Soest
My parents were art-lovers and they often took me on visits to exhibitions when I was a child. My father occasionally painted to relax, and my uncle to release his feelings. My mother modelled in clay for several years. My parents as well as my school art-lessons encouraged my strong creativity. In the critical phases of my youth and early adulthood, I found consolation and new confidence through artistic activity.
I find works by other artists very inspiring. But also being alone helps meo get "strange ideas". In problematic life situations, I need creative artistic activity to find myself and to achieve new clarity.
A brief history of artistically designed lamps would have to include Isamu Noguchi’s paper- covered modernist orbs, Philippe Starck’s many postmodern witticisms, and the cute metal cow head that stood by my bedside when I was a teenager. Anna Schmidt’s “Funky Mary” glows somewhere in between them all. Originally just a floor lamp with a fussy wooden base and a cream silk shade trimmed in black velvet, the device was utterly transformed by Schmidt’s addition of organza and chicken wire. The shade became a swishy ladies’ skirt, complete with legs hanging below and a bustier-wearing torso above. Other creations by Schmidt reimagine the lamp shade with slightly less bawdiness but an equal understanding of its inherent possibilities. Magazine pages, hand-knit wool, painted fabric and variously deconstructed and reconstructed found shades abound; light is used both in its presence and in its absence; even the metal frame that holds it all together invisibly becomes a striking element. A perfect reading light these are not—but then, with the advent of e-readers, we no longer really need lamps just for lighting up the printed page.“
Artistic creation is a vital necessity for me because it keeps me alive. I'm fascinated by light in all variations and need the art to express this fascination. In art, my creativity finds its outlet.
Again and again I find that especially young people fall in love with my "Irrelichter". Often they know the standard lamps of the 40s to 70s from their grandparents and are fascinated by the alienation that I bring to them.
Anna Schmidt
Boerdenstr. 17, 59494 Soest
Phone: +49 (0)2921 / 339374
Fax: +49 (0)2921 / 339371
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.