ABOUT
Michel Kekulé (born 1991 in Fulda, Germany) lives and works in Berlin. With family roots in East and West Germany, his work examines political and social transformations in East Germany and how they persist in landscapes, infrastructures and biographies.
He studied photography at the Ostkreuzschule für Fotografie in Berlin under Ina Schoenenburg and Peter Bialobrzeski (2025) and is currently pursuing further studies at the Hochschule Bielefeld.
His long-term project Mutterland traces historical, social and biographical fractures in East Germany and their ongoing effects. In Bestandslast, he focuses on material continuities and infrastructural legacies of past political systems. Earlier work such as 50_15 engaged with migration in the central Mediterranean. His work has received several awards, among them the Hellerau Photography Award.
Kekulé also works with video for theatre. The production Nullerjahre at the Staatsschauspiel Dresden (2024), for which he developed the video work, was selected for the Nachtkritik Theatertreffen.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022
Tage der Perseiden, Nomos Forum, Glashütte, GER
Tage der Perseiden, Nomos Forum, Glashütte, GER
2023
50_15, Monat der Fotografie Off, Atelier für Photographie, Berlin, GER
50_15, Monat der Fotografie Off, Atelier für Photographie, Berlin, GER
2025
Mutterland, Photogalerie Stuttgart, GER
Mutterland, Atelier für Photographie, Berlin, GER
Mutterland, Photogalerie Stuttgart, GER
Mutterland, Atelier für Photographie, Berlin, GER
GROUP EXHIBITIONS (SELECTION)
2023
Mutterland, Salon zur Katz – 1. Prozess, Turm zur Katz, Museum of Contemporary Art, Konstanz, GER
Mutterland, East from Where, Studio Hannibal, Berlin, GER
Mutterland, Salon zur Katz – 1. Prozess, Turm zur Katz, Museum of Contemporary Art, Konstanz, GER
Mutterland, East from Where, Studio Hannibal, Berlin, GER
2024
50_15, Re:Borders – An Indictment, Kunstquartier Bethanien, Berlin, GER
Mutterland, Signals, Kunsthalle Neuwerk, Konstanz, GER
Mutterland, BFF-Förderpreis, Horizonte Zingst, Zingst, GER
50_15, Re:Borders – An Indictment, Kunstquartier Bethanien, Berlin, GER
Mutterland, Signals, Kunsthalle Neuwerk, Konstanz, GER
Mutterland, BFF-Förderpreis, Horizonte Zingst, Zingst, GER
2025
50_15, Meet Me Halfway – EMOP Special, European Month of Photography, Berlin, GER
Mutterland, BFF-Förderpreis, Regierungspräsidium Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, GER
Mutterland, Technische Sammlungen Dresden, GER
Mutterland, Gute Gesellschaft – Jahrgang Neunzehn, Wilhelm Studios, Berlin, GER
50_15, Meet Me Halfway – EMOP Special, European Month of Photography, Berlin, GER
Mutterland, BFF-Förderpreis, Regierungspräsidium Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, GER
Mutterland, Technische Sammlungen Dresden, GER
Mutterland, Gute Gesellschaft – Jahrgang Neunzehn, Wilhelm Studios, Berlin, GER
GRANTS & AWARDS
2023
Artist Fellowship Nomos Glashütte
The Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant, Longlist for 50_15
Project Funding for Re:Borders, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Germany
Artist Fellowship Nomos Glashütte
The Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant, Longlist for 50_15
Project Funding for Re:Borders, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Germany
2024
Stiftung Kulturwerk – VG Bild-Kunst Grant for Re:Borders
BFF Förderpreis, Silver Award for Mutterland
Stiftung Kulturwerk – VG Bild-Kunst Grant for Re:Borders
BFF Förderpreis, Silver Award for Mutterland
2025
TruePicture Award, Finalist
Hendrik te Neues Award, Nominated
Portraits – Hellerau Photography Award
TruePicture Award, Finalist
Hendrik te Neues Award, Nominated
Portraits – Hellerau Photography Award
2026
BLANK ART FOUNDATION Photo Award, Nominated
Wüstenrot Stiftung Dokumentarfotografie Preis, Nominated
BLANK ART FOUNDATION Photo Award, Nominated
Wüstenrot Stiftung Dokumentarfotografie Preis, Nominated
VIDEO & THEATRE WORK (SELECTION)
2026
Candide, directed by Volker Lösch, Staatsschauspiel Dresden
Candide, directed by Volker Lösch, Staatsschauspiel Dresden
2024
Nullerjahre, directed by Kajetan Skurski, Staatsschauspiel Dresden
Selected for the Nachtkritik Theatertreffen (Top 10 productions)
Nullerjahre, directed by Kajetan Skurski, Staatsschauspiel Dresden
Selected for the Nachtkritik Theatertreffen (Top 10 productions)
PUBLICATIONS
Mutterland (2025)
Artist book, edition of 50
Hardcover, linen-bound
248 × 300 mm
88 pages
Artist book, edition of 50
Hardcover, linen-bound
248 × 300 mm
88 pages
SELECTED CATALOGUES & GROUP PUBLICATIONS
2026
Edited (OKS x ICP), group publication
Edited (OKS x ICP), group publication
2025
Hellerau Photography Award, exhibition catalogue
Hellerau Photography Award, exhibition catalogue
2024
BFF Förderpreis, exhibition catalogue
BFF Förderpreis, exhibition catalogue
CLIENTS, COLLABORATIONS & PUBLICATIONS (SELECTION)
Sea-Watch e.V.
Seebrücke
Land Berlin
Rosa Luxemburg-Stiftung
Volksbühne Berlin
Der Freitag
Schirn Mag
Kubaparis
Staatsschauspiel Dresden
Schillertage Mannheim
Kunsthalle Gießen
L'Essenziale
Berliner Zeitung
Der Greif
Seebrücke
Land Berlin
Rosa Luxemburg-Stiftung
Volksbühne Berlin
Der Freitag
Schirn Mag
Kubaparis
Staatsschauspiel Dresden
Schillertage Mannheim
Kunsthalle Gießen
L'Essenziale
Berliner Zeitung
Der Greif
INITIATED PROJECTS
2023–2026
Founder, Re:Borders, Berlin, GER
Founder, Re:Borders, Berlin, GER
2023
Schriftstellerinnen und Fotografinnen gegen Antisemitismus, Volksbühne Berlin, GER
Schriftstellerinnen und Fotografinnen gegen Antisemitismus, Volksbühne Berlin, GER
2023
Solidarity Letters, in collaboration with Sea-Watch e.V. and Seebrücke, supported by Rosa-Luxemburg-Foundation, GER
Solidarity Letters, in collaboration with Sea-Watch e.V. and Seebrücke, supported by Rosa-Luxemburg-Foundation, GER
LECTURES & TALKS
Artist talks, lectures and workshops held at universities and cultural institutions including the University of Bonn, C/O Berlin and the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation.
PRESS (SELECTION)
+491707365844