'A painting should make you rethink the way you see the world' | Ruprecht von Kaufmann Timestamp

Ruprecht von Kaufmann is one of Germany’s leading contemporary painters — a storyteller in oil and linoleum whose worlds blur the boundaries between dream and waking life, theatre and psychology, abstraction and figuration. Born in Munich in 1974, von Kaufmann studied at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena before living in Los Angeles and New York. Since 2003 he has lived and worked in Berlin, where his richly textured paintings and installations explore what it means to live between clarity and confusion — between what we see and what we feel. Von Kaufmann’s practice is instantly recognizable for its material intensity and emotional depth. He paints on colored linoleum, cuts and scrapes the surface with power tools, and layers collage, oil, and wire to create images that are as tactile as they are psychological. His work refuses to illustrate a single story; instead, it opens emotional spaces filled with ghosts, fragmented figures, and half-remembered scenes — a theatre of memory and transformation. Across exhibitions in Berlin, London, New York, Shanghai, and Taipei, von Kaufmann’s work has been shown in museums and galleries such as Haus am Lützowplatz, Buchheim Museum, and Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery. His paintings are held in major collections including the Federal Republic of Germany, Bundesbank Collection, Sammlung Philara, and Hort (New York). As a teacher and mentor, Ruprecht brings the same openness and depth that define his studio practice. He has taught at institutions including the Berlin University of the Arts, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, and the Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig, as well as hosting painting retreats and workshops throughout Europe. His approach to teaching is rooted in empathy and individuality — helping each student find their own visual language rather than teaching them to paint like him. In his lectures and masterclasses, he often reminds students that painting is not about control but about conversation: a living dialogue between artist, surface, and emotion. This Timestamp interview explores his philosophy as both artist and teacher — how storytelling, failure, and material experimentation can become tools for truth. About the Work Von Kaufmann’s paintings often feature ambiguous figures caught in states of transformation — dreamlike scenes rendered with a physical, sculptural touch. He describes his process as "painting as if directing a movie," where each image evolves like a scene suspended between reality and fiction. Themes of identity, dislocation, and the fragile state of being human run through his recent exhibitions such as “HERBST”, which draws parallels between the turbulence of the Weimar era and the present moment’s uncertainty. His work captures the feeling of living between worlds — where emotion and history collide in color, gesture, and texture. Find more of Ruprecht von Kaufmann's work here: Website: www.rvonkaufmann.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruprecht_v_... 📍 Filmed in Berlin, Germany Filmed and produced by Timestamp — documenting artists, ideas, and creative lives around the world. Timestamp is an arts education organization dedicated to bringing the contemporary art world to a global audience. We create a documentary series that goes beyond the artwork to explore the minds and practices of contemporary artists around the world. Through intimate, cinematic interviews and immersive visuals, we document the personal philosophies, studio rituals, and emotional landscapes that shape the art of our time, creating a vital educational resource for all. To continue this mission and keep this educational content accessible, we rely on the generosity of donations and sponsorships. Your support directly funds the production of these insightful films, ensuring the next generation of artists and enthusiasts can learn from the masters of today. — Want to support Timestamp? Donate here! https://buymeacoffee.com/mgmttimestz — Read the full story here: https://timestamp-art.com/ruprecht-vo... — Timestamp Interviews with the art world. Website: https://timestamp-art.com/ Instagram:   / time____stamp   TikTok:   / time____stamp   Learn more: https://beacons.ai/time____stamp Listen to Timestamp interviews on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/76yZVdQ... — Help support Timestamp (we're an Amazon Associate) when you buy art supplies with our affiliate links (we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you): Shop for Linoleum: https://amzn.to/3J9SAtP Shop for Oil Paint: https://amzn.to/49a3RoD Shop for Printmaking Tools: https://amzn.to/3X0AKMV Shop for Linoleum Carving Tools: https://amzn.to/4oaaPhN Shop for Canvas: https://amzn.to/4nG9q1I Shop for Brushes: https://amzn.to/4nJQJdQ — #RuprechtVonKaufmann #ArtistInterview #ContemporaryArt