In this conversation, artist Thomas Müllenbach discusses his life and artistic journey. Thomas Müllenbach was born on December 20, 1949, in Koblenz, Germany. He has been based in Zurich, Switzerland, since 1972, where he has made significant contributions to the art world. Müllenbach is recognized as a painter, draftsman, and professor, with a career spanning several decades. His artistic practice focuses on the “normality” of everyday life, transforming the mundane into thought-provoking works through painting and drawing.

He studied at the Kunstakademie in Karlsruhe before moving to Zurich to train as a restorer at the Swiss Institute for Art Research (SIK). His work often explores themes like the architecture of banks and insurance companies (“Geldräume”) and reinterprets familiar imagery, as seen in his “Halboriginale” series—unique appropriations of art historical references. Müllenbach initiated and co-founded the Kunsthalle Zürich in 1985 and served as its vice president until 2003. He also taught painting at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) from 1989 to 2015, influencing a generation of artists.

His exhibitions, such as “Das ganze Leben” (2000) at Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen, highlight his ability to blend irony, minimalism, and a keen observation of daily life. In his own words, he’s a “Specialist for normality in all its facets by means of painting and drawing. An unfamiliar view of the familiar brings about the strangeness of the familiar.”

In this interview, Thomas Müllenbach talks about his beginnings, art restoration, his career as independent artist, his time in New York, the professorship in Zürich, how he brought the Kunsthalle Zürich to life, and his recent work. The conversation was conducted in German, English subtitles are available via the YouTube settings. A transcript / translation will be available in an upcoming issue of our magazine.

Studio visit and interview with the artist Thomas Müllenbach. Zürich (Switzerland), February 20, 2025.