Ireen ZielonkaAbout
Photo by Daniel Zakharov
2026 upcoming: INVISIBLE ARCHITECTS – … and of small things the world is built Phytoplankton and architecture. An exploration of the parallels between marine and urban ecosystems. What new perspectives on the city of the future might this give rise to? Exhibition and Artist Talk in November in Berlin at the Verwalterhaus.
2026 upcoming: POSIDONIE, Exhibition and Artist Talk at Galerie Joseph Ravaisou, Bandol, France, Oct.-Dec.
2026 upcoming: SUPERSTAR SEAGRAS, production cinématographique Inderbitzi, Suisse, 2026. Documentaire sur les herbiers marins en France, en Espagne et en Allemagne. Mon travail consistera à apporter une dimension artistique et narrative à ce documentaire. www.superstarseagrass.com
_____________________________________________________________________
Drawn lines are like vocal cords.
What remains hidden from us, even though it constantly surrounds us? This question shapes the artistic practice of Ireen Zielonka. She focuses her attention on the impact of what is otherwise invisible within visible space.
Architecture, urban planning and sociology form the basis of her work, which she combines with scientific insights and philosophical questions. Her research centres on wind, air and oxygen – elemental forces that shape our world. She explores how these invisible phenomena become perceptible through their effects, traces and interactions with space. In doing so, she invites to reconsider our relationship with forces that are present everywhere, yet often remain unnoticed. “They cannot be grasped, yet they can be understood,” says Zielonka.
International scholarships and residencies have taken her to Austria, Poland, Spain and France, among other places. Her works are held in public and private collections.
Ireen Zielonka lives and works in Berlin and Marseille.
Les lignes tracées sont comme des cordes vocales.
Qu’est-ce qui nous échappe, alors même que cela nous entoure en permanence ? Cette question est au cœur de la pratique artistique d’Ireen Zielonka. Elle s’intéresse particulièrement à l’impact de ce qui, autrement, demeure invisible au sein de l’espace visible.
L’architecture, l’urbanisme et la sociologie constituent le fondement de son travail, qu’elle associe à des perspectives scientifiques et à des questionnements philosophiques. Ses recherches portent sur le vent, l’air et l’oxygène – des forces élémentaires qui façonnent notre monde. Elle explore la manière dont ces phénomènes invisibles deviennent perceptibles à travers leurs effets, leurs traces et leurs interactions avec l’espace. « On ne peut pas les saisir, mais on peut les saisir. Ils échappent à nos mains, mais pas à notre compréhension. », explique Zielonka.
Des bourses internationales et des résidences l’ont notamment conduite en Autriche, en Pologne, en Espagne et en France. Ses œuvres font partie de collections publiques et privées.
Ireen Zielonka vit et travaille à Berlin et à Marseille.
_____________________________________________________________________
Exhibitions (S) Solo / (G) Group (selected)
“Pneuma: Where does your soul come from?” Freehome Talk, Berlin (Vadim Zakharov and Maria Porudominskaja)
Stade nautique Florence Arthaud, Marseille (Inauguration)
„The Breath of Monaco“, Circle Monaco, Villa Milton Monte Carlo, Monaco (S)
„Le souffle d’Entrevaux“, Spread Museum Entrevaux, France (S)
Points of Resistance, Zionskirche Berlin (G)
„John Heartfield – DA bin ich! Ein Leben wie eine Collage“, John Heartfield Haus, Märkische Schweiz (S)
Paper Positions Berlin 2020, Art Fair, represented by Kleiner von Wiese
Kleiner von Wiese, Villa Erxleben Berlin Grunewald (G)
GEHAG Forum („How to deal with existential crisis?“) (G)
„Identity vs. Personality“ at Gallery Tore Suessbier, Berlin (S)
„Today. Berlin. Art.“ auction at Villa Elizabeth, Invalidenstr. 4a, 10115 Berlin Mitte (G)
„Sell your treasures“ at Sala d’expositions del Casino de Vic, Catalonia, Spain (S)
Lecture in Escola d’Art i Superior de Disseny de Vic, Catalonia, Spain
„Überfordert“ (Overwhelmed), Curator Vadim Zakharov at „Freehome“, Berlin (G)
goMedus, Berlin (G)
„Pneuma“ at Gallery Tore Suessbier, Berlin (S)
„House of Tweets“, Ministergärten, Landesvertretung des Saarlandes in Berlin (G)
„Die Schlesische Lunge“ / The Silesian Lung, Drawings in Gallery Miasto,Katowice Miasto Ogrodów, Poland (UNESCO). Soundinstallation in cooperation with Paweł Palej, Łukasz Kozera, Michaeł Paduch, Paweł Siodłok and Tomasz Makula. (S)
„Prologue“, Gallery Pusta, Katowice Miasto Ogrodów, Poland (UNESCO). (S)
„Artist to Artist“, Curator Vadim Zakharov at „Freehome“, Berlin (G)
„Zürich…von Giganten und Ganoven“ („Zurich … from Giants and Crooks“) , Galerie 16b, Zurich, Switzerland (G)
Kunsthalle European Creative City ECC-Weißensee, Berlin, Germany (G)
Anti-Heroes, „The Death of Andy Warhol”, graphic novel, Villa Mohr, Munich, Germany (G)
Stahlyn, installation of an cocktail-robot, at the international annual exhibition „Roböxotica” (G)
„Feuerwehrspezialeinheit”, photography, Museumsquartier/Vienna (Electric Avenue), Austria (G)
„Machines”, drawings, Bari, Berlin (S)
„Parteiapparat”, political machine, installation, Museumsquartier/Vienna (Electric Avenue), Austria (S)
„Loka Daun”, photography, Museumsquartier/Vienna (Electric Avenue), Austria (S)
Other works
„Horologion of Andronikos Kyrrhestes“, experimental music (in cooperation), research and drawings about the Tower of Winds in Athens, Greece
“The Metallic Taste Of Pneuma”, a drawing-research about the history of tuberculosis based of the ancient greek term of PNEVMA
Illustrations for a story by author Leonardo Letra „Contadores de històrias“ (what means a professional storyteller and Campolina), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Drawing „Farewell-party“, Professor Hans Wilderotter, Museum Europäischer Kulturen, Berlin-Dahlem
Consultation and participation „Manfred Butzmann. Heimatkunde. Aus den Tagebüchern der Jahre 1989 und 199o” Akademie der Künste Berlin (Hg.), AdK, Archiv, Berlin
John-Heartfield-Haus, Waldsieversdorf, Reconstruction and Research, Studio – private Interior weekend cottage of John Heartfield
Photographs for a computer game „Sowjet Unterzögersdorf”, for the artistgroup ”monochrom”
Stage design for „anti”-musical „Udo 77”, collaboration with the art-technology-philosophy group „monochrom”, Rabenhoftheater Vienna, Austria
Publications
Record Cover „Obsessive“, Martin Escalante (alto sax) and Weasel Walter (drums) at Seizures Palace, Brooklyn, NY, published in: ugEXPLODE Records
Interview „People who works on paper“, published in: designdrift magazine, India
„Die Berlinerin“, Part of Photoserie by Photographer Ashkan Sahihi about the Berlin Woman, Galerie im Körnerpark, Berlin / DISTANZ Verlag, ISBN 978-3-95476-101-2
„Visionarios“, Magazine, Issue 4, Cover and Illustrations, Hollywood L.A.
Article about Artwork in: „Posi+tive Magazine“, Issue I, page 125, „ECC / Berlin’s City Of Creativity / Ireen Zielonka“, www.positive-magazine.com
„Penelope Goldschlag – The first instrument”, „Penelope Goldschlag – Falling in love with Joey Ramone”, yiddish graphic novels in Swiss magazine „Milk & Wodka”, Rock ‚n‘ Roll Vol.II, 2oo8, No. 9, Switzerland
Drawings, ”Die Krähen vor meinem Fenster” („The Crows up on my Window“); author Willi Sagert, Exhibition and Book
Academy of Arts, Berlin: New acquisitions Library May / August: ”Die Krähen vor meinem Fenster” („The Crows up on my Window“); Willi Sagert, Ireen Zielonka
Hertzfeldt & Partner, Westermann Verlag, Praxis Englisch, „Action – Training Film Literacy”, „Australia”
„Penelope Goldschlag and the death of Andy Warhol”, „Penelope Goldschlag and the Death of Brian Jones”, yiddish graphic novels in Swiss magazine „Milk & Wodka”, Death, No. 1o, Switzerland
„Penelope Goldschlag, wos ajn Schlamassel” yiddish graphic novel
„Penelope Goldschlag‘s experience with The Cramps”, Rumble Skunk, No.2, 6o‘s Garage Punk Fanzine, Greece
„tag day dies”, publication, drawings and texts of a diary
Charitable engagement
„Agree To Disagree“ drawing for lyrics from the Album „Money can‘t kill Music“ by Christiano Can
„I‘m not perfect but I‘m perfectly me“, concept for „RUA“. Project for children who are living in „Morro da Providência“ (Favela) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, www.r-u-a.jimdo.com