A Most Unusual Specimen. A Homage to Sophie von Stillfried

“Sophie von Stillfried (1974–2025) was a painter from Leipzig whose work focused on the human body, autobiographical experiences, and sexual and gender identity. In her sensitive visual language, she frequently focused on body fragments, gestures, and tattoos. In doing so, she challenged binary notions of gender and stereotypical attributions. From 1998 to 2004, von Stillfried studied painting at the Academy of Visual Arts in Leipzig, supplemented by a semester abroad at the Instituto Superior de Arte in Havana. After becoming a master student under Arno Rink in 2005, she completed her studies under Neo Rauch in 2007. Her works have been shown in numerous solo and group exhibitions, including in Leipzig, Berlin, Frankfurt, Vienna, and Istanbul. …”