Kristian Schuller’s “Pictures” at Kunstraum Potsdam: A Dreamlike Journey Through Light and Shadow

On March 8, 2025, Kunstraum Potsdam, in collaboration with JAEGER ART, presented “Pictures,” a solo exhibition by renowned fashion and portrait photographer Kristian Schuller.

His unmistakable visual language invites visitors to explore a world between past and present.

Schuller’s work takes viewers on a journey through energetic dreamscapes. The exhibition features both vivid colors and striking black-and-white tones. Some images showcase star portraits of icons like Katy Perry and Cate Blanchett. Others unfold in atmospheric fashion compositions.

As a counterpoint, Kristian Schuller presents a series of black-and-white portraits from Transylvania. These images depict diverse characters who shaped his early view of his homeland. Haunting faces greet the viewer with direct gazes, creating an intimate dialogue. They contrast with his colorful, dreamlike worlds but evoke the same curiosity. The stories behind the images, the encounters that inspired them, and the next chapter of Schuller’s artistic journey all come into focus.

Schuller’s signature style emerges from a close creative partnership with his wife, Peggy. His photography blends playfulness with surprise. He masterfully uses blurring and light to create a mystical atmosphere, leaving room for interpretation.

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Born in Romania, Schuller moved to Germany as a child. Growing up under communism, he found the gray streets and rigid atmosphere stifling. This sparked a lifelong fascination with color, light, and the people who responded to their surroundings with wit and improvisation.

“I’d rather dream myself into the unknown than have everything presented in bright light. The silhouette of a woman is enough to make a whole movie run in my imagination. I am very lucky to work with wonderful people whose strong personalities both inspire and challenge me. It doesn’t matter whether they are well-known characters like Cate Blanchett or Penélope Cruz or ordinary people from my village in the Transylvania series. Character and beauty in pictures can only emerge in interaction with the personality of the people portrayed. Everything else is empty for me.”

Schuller on his approach to his photography

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About the artist:

Kristian Schuller came to Germany from Transylvania at the age of seven. His father was a director and dramaturge, and his mother was an art teacher. He grew up surrounded by theater and creativity. He studied photography under F. C. Gundlach and fashion design under Vivienne Westwood at the Berlin University of the Arts.

Although he ultimately chose photography, both disciplines influence his work. After an introduction by Isabella Blow at Condé Nast Publications in London, he worked internationally with top fashion magazines, commercial clients, and personal projects. His wife, Peggy, an art director and fashion designer, plays a vital role in his creative process. They met while studying under Westwood, and her designs continue to shape his artistic vision. After years in Paris and New York, Schuller returned to Berlin with his family.

His published books include 90 Days, One Dream (2010), Tales for Oskar (2014) and Anton’s Berlin (2020) with Hatje Cantz.

The exhibition runs from March 8 to May 25, to the 21st of April, 2025, at Kunstraum Potsdam offering visitors ample time to experience Schuller’s captivating world of photography.

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