Meisterschuelerinnen, Villa Merkel, November 2017
© Charlie Stein, Study for a Museum Display (Installation View), 2017, copyright Charlie Stein

“I don’t think of myself as being all too different from other folks.”

Name

Charlie Stein 

Profession

Visual Artist 

Website

charliestein.com

Charlie Stein Atelier Foto von Charlie Stein
© Charlie Stein in the Studio, 2017, photographed by Charlie Stein

Who are you? What do you do?

I am a German artist living in Berlin 

Where are you from?

The German Forest. However I was born on an airplane somewhat closely in the airspace over Caracas, so that was marked as my birthplace.

 Your style in 3 words?

Charlie F***ing Stein 

Your weakness? Your strength?

I am fast, I am fast 

Charlie_Stein_American Flag_Blow-Up_2018_photo_Charlie_Stein
© Charlie Stein, American Flag (Blow-Up), 2018, copyright Charlie Stein

What makes you different?

I don’t think of myself as being all too different from other folks. Amongst artists in Berlin this attitude is pretty common. 

When did you decide to become an artist?

I painted my first oil painting when I was around 6 years old. The paint was old and I had no thinners. I was very unhappy with my stroke-dry triangles, circles and squares. I didn’t believe my mother when she told me it looked quite alright. 

What do you find most fascinating about the creative process?

The pace of the creative process. It can take weeks, sometimes months to solve a single problem. Then I can churn out 12 new works in a single week. 

Charlie_Stein_American Flag_Socks2_2018_photo_Charlie_Stein
© Charlie Stein, American Flag, Socks, 2018, copyright Charlie Stein

A few words about your favourite creation?

I like them all the same – just like kids. Even the ugly ones. 

Someone else’s work that inspired or inspires you…

I think Felix Gonzales-Torres’ whole body of work is impressively concise and touches me, but I also hang around the museum for hours looking at the Old Masters. 

A new project coming up or an idea you want to work on?

I am currently working with the codes fashion conveys. It is almost like a distorting fun-house mirror of current societal issues.

Finish the sentence „More important than my career is…“

… the time I get to read.

 2018: Where are we going?

2019 

When the going gets tough…

Billy Idol gets you up again. 

Your city’s favourite spots?

I like the little Turkish bakeries all along Kottbusser Damm with their selection of home-made bread, sweets and roasted nuts. For art, Sprüth/Magers, the Gemäldegalerie and NBK are always worth visiting.

Charlie_Stein_Study_of_a_Museum_Display_3_2017_photo_Harald_Neumann
© Charlie Stein, Study for a Museum Display (Installation View), 2017, copyright Charlie Stein

Do you have a vision?

None that I can’t self-medicate. 

What would you do if you could change the World?

I wouldn’t. Knowing me, I would probably cause all kinds of problems which I hadn’t been able to anticipate. 

Tell us about your future plans…

I will hopefully be able to create more of the work I would like to bring to life and I hope to be able to work on the scale that I intend to be working on. 

Last but not least: what is your favourite Song?

Currently Princess Nokia Brujas.

 #…?

#burningNikes

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