My work explores how environments leave lasting traces beyond what we consciously perceive. Rather than depicting literal architecture or landscapes, I translate fleeting impressions into deeply layered abstract surfaces that capture atmosphere, memory, and materiality.
My ongoing series Surface Studies finds its current expression in the subseries Hamburg Reflections. This body of work is inspired by the city’s distinctive contrasts: the natural rhythms of the Elbe and Alster, changing northern skies and quiet moments of light, alongside the architectural dialogue between the historic brick of Speicherstadt and the contemporary glass and steel structures of HafenCity. These everyday observations become starting points for tactile compositions that encourage viewers to slow down and discover evolving details over time.
Working with texture paste, acrylic paint, and oil pastels, I continuously rotate each canvas throughout an intuitive, physical process of layering, applying, scraping, scratching, and revealing. This allows visual balance to emerge organically from the interplay of structure, colour, and texture. A final satin varnish enhances the chromatic depth and allows light to interact with the textured surface.
Rather than documenting a specific place or moment, I aim to preserve a sensory memory – creating quiet spaces for contemplation where material, light, memory, and personal interpretation meet.
Biography
CARINA TIX is a Hamburg-based contemporary artist with a professional background in premium womenswear fashion design. Her creative practice is shaped by a deep interest in materiality, craftsmanship, texture, and composition, combining a refined aesthetic with an intuitive, process-driven approach.
Moving to Hamburg in 2026 marked a new chapter in her artistic journey. The city’s reflections on water, weathered materials, changing skies, and shifting northern light became an ongoing source of inspiration, shaping her series Surface Studies and its current subseries Hamburg Reflections.
Her work explores the subtle relationship between atmosphere, materiality, and memory through abstract paintings that transform fleeting impressions into layered, tactile surfaces. Rather than depicting specific places, she creates evocative works that invite slow observation and leave space for personal interpretation.
With Surface Studies, and particularly its current subseries Hamburg Reflections, CARINA TIX is developing a distinct contemporary body of work centred on timeless aesthetics, sensory experience, and material exploration. Her background in fashion design informs a highly considered approach to colour, proportion, surface structure, and visual balance, while the painting process itself remains intuitive and open.
HAAM marks a significant milestone in sharing this body of work publicly, introducing Surface Studies to collectors, art enthusiasts, and new audiences in Hamburg.