Michael Merkel

Michael Merkel, born in Dresden in 1987, first trained as a wood sculptor before studying German Literature, Cultural Studies, and Art History in Dresden and Wrocław (B.A.). He further pursued studies in Fine Arts at the Wrocław Art Academy, Bauhaus University Weimar, and the Academy of Fine Arts in Dresden (Dipolma, Meisterschüler). In addition to curating various projects, he has exhibited his work multiple times both in Germany and internationally.
Merkel has received numerous scholarships and project grants for his artistic work. He is also part of the management team at GEH8, an art and cultural center in Dresden, where he oversees programming and public relations.

His artistic practice is distinguished by its versatility, evident in his use of a wide range of materials and techniques, as well as in the themes and discourses he engages with. His body of work spans drawing, photography, collage, and object art, as well as temporary installations in public spaces. Merkel’s work combines technical mastery with meticulous attention to detail, and it is marked by a distinctive, humorous, and innovative artistic approach.

During his time in Akureyri, Michael Merkel aims to gain a deeper understanding of the local cultural scene, establish new connections, explore the region’s landscape and Iceland at large, and create his first drawings of ice caves.