Jens Fölting (born 1988, Duisburg, Germany) is a Munich-based freelance artist whose work explores the intersection of abstraction and impressionism. Since 2015, he has lived and worked in Munich, where his creative practice focuses on capturing the fragile beauty of the moment. Through his unique blend of expressive painting techniques and subtle tonal shifts, Fölting invites viewers to engage with the ephemeral nature of both the moment and life.
How did you get into art?
I am a late starter. After having pursued a corporate career for almost 9 years, I re-engaged in art in search for self-efficacy, inner peace and mindfulness. When painting, I can calm down and take pleasure in all the beautiful details that we often overlook in our fast-paced daily lives. To me, beauty is everywhere. We just need to pause to discover it.
How would you describe your style? What makes your work special?
My work combines abstract and impressionist elements and mainly arises with mixed media on canvas. To me, the combination of the two styles perfectly resembles the fragile beauty of the moment, nature and life that I try to capture.
How do you go about developing your work?
It often begins with a simple personal experience like a walk through a birch forest on a crisp autumn morning. I draw from these memories, rather than photographs, because I’m not interested in replicating reality. Instead, I want to capture my personal impression and emotional response to these experiences.
From that point, the process becomes a journey of exploration. I often engage in a form of deconstructivism, where I feel the need to 'destroy' my work at certain stages—either partially or entirely—in order to rebuild it. It’s about admiring the process and constantly pushing the boundaries of what the piece can become, allowing the work to evolve in unexpected and organic ways.
Who or what influences you?
It is the fragile beauty of life - because every moment is unique and beauty is to be found everywhere. My work is inspired and influenced by British artist William Turner who is also regarded as one of the pioneers for modern art and impressionism. His masterly handling of light and atmosphere influenced my stlye. Besides, a strong influence comes from Jackson Pollock and his action painting because I am convinced that coincidence is a masterly painter.
Make us curious. What are you planning to do next?
To me, this year is all about creating. Having done some winter inspired pieces recently, I am already longing for spring to arrive. To shorten the time, I already started to work on this year’s “spring” collection.
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