Artist in Focus: Michael Kopplstätter - curated by Jessica L

A curation by Jessica L, Head of Exhibitions at - In this Artist in Focus, Michael Kopplstätter explores the fragile space between presence and disappearance, control and surrender. Working through figurative compositions infused with abstraction, the Austrian artist captures the human body in states of tension, intimacy, and emotional exposure. His subjects appear suspended in motion, partially blurred, as if oscillating between clarity and distortion. Kopplstätter’s practice is deeply informed by his background in architecture and fashion, disciplines that shape his understanding of structure, form, and movement. Through layered paint, soft erasures, and deliberate blurring, he creates images where perception becomes unstable and the body resists fixation. The female form is central, not idealised, but rendered vulnerable, powerful, and deeply human. Having begun his artistic career in New York and exhibited internationally, Kopplstätter has developed a distinctive visual language where realism dissolves into sensation. This spotlight highlights an artist whose work invites the viewer into a charged emotional space.