In the Artist Spotlight: Eva Brunninger
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Who are you? What do you do?
My name is Eva Brunninger, I’m 24 years old, and I am a student at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. I recently completed my two bachelor’s degrees in Art and Communication Practices as well as Design, Material Culture and Experimental Practice. In the upcoming semester, I will begin my master’s studies at Angewandte.
Painting is one of my favourite media, but recently I’ve also been working a lot with installation and sculpture, using different materials like metal wire, wood, or textiles.
How did you get started with art?
I’ve always been very creative and enthusiastic about arts and crafts. When I started my art studies, my approach became much more intentional, allowing me to explore my ideas in a deeper and more dedicated way.
How did you find your style?
Finding a style has never been a clear moment for me – it’s more of an ongoing process of discovering what I’m truly interested in, both conceptually and materially. During my studies, I made a conscious effort not to stick to a single artistic technique or medium. Instead, I explored a wide range of materials and approaches in order to understand which ones best communicate my ideas. Over time, I started recognizing recurring forms, gestures, themes, and interests that keep reappearing in my work, regardless of the medium I’m working in. They’ve gradually shaped what could be described as my personal visual language or style.
What would you say is your favorite project that you’ve done?
One art project that I really like is called “Translation of a Painting.”
I attempted to reinterpret one of my abstract paintings by translating it into other artistic media. I began by transferring the two-dimensional color fields into a spatial and material context, creating an installation using tulle, cardboard, and plaster elements.
In a further step, I brought the work back into two-dimensionality through photography. The image visually recalls the painting, while still standing as a reinterpretation of it. It is currently exhibited at Replugged Gallery in Lerchenfelderstraße 23, 1070 or can also be seen on my Instagram page.
Tell us a little bit about the art pieces that you show in our cafe.
These paintings are part of the series with the title “formas y colores de Barcelona,” or in English: “Shapes and Colours of Barcelona,” and they are the result of an artistic project that I was working on last year when I did a study exchange in Barcelona. My works center on the three essential elements form, color, and composition. The paintings are abstract and show flowing shapes with soft curves and rounded edges. They create a dynamic tension and a sense of movement, while the flatness of the light-toned surface gives the painting a static quality. At first sight, they seem very simple, but there is a concept and artistic investigation behind them.
Can you explain the concept behind this painting series?
For some time now, my artistic research has focused on the abstraction of objects. I explore how to reduce our multidimensional perception of the environment into flat, abstract representations. While walking through the urban space of Barcelona, I tried to identify interesting shapes without interpreting distance, size, or function. This requires a very specific way of seeing. I reduced objects to their outlines, almost as if I were cutting them out of their context. These forms then became the main elements of my paintings. Additionally, I made an artist book that shows photographs of urban scenes, from which the paintings’ forms originate. 
Do you have any goals you’re working towards? And if so, do you mind sharing?
Making art requires lots of time and space, and one of the biggest challenges is actually finding enough of both. That’s why one of my main goals is simply prioritizing time for my creative processes, because that’s the foundation for everything else. I feel like I am still at the beginning of my career, and right now my goal is to stay curious and keep exploring — both artistically and professionally. I want to see what’s possible for me as an artist, whether that’s exhibiting more, applying for residencies, or working in the field of art education. I’m open to where the path takes me.
What’s your relationship with coffee?
I really love coffee. It’s part of my daily routine, almost every morning I make it with my moka pot. And I love the social side of it too, like catching up with friends over a cappuccino.
Do you also sell your paintings?
Well, I don't make my paintings with the intention to sell, but I would feel truly honored if someone wanted to own one of them, so yes, I would sell them too. I’m also open to creating new paintings if someone has specific dimensions or colors in mind.
Where can people find you?
I have an Instagram page for my art stuff: @evasstudioo. I’m always happy about new followers. And if you are in Vienna, you should definitely stop by Kaffemik to see my paintings in real life while enjoying a good cup of coffee :)