The exhibition Surface Matter has emerged from an international network of painting technique tutors that has existed since 2017, is constantly expanding, and meets at irregular intervals. The focus is on exchange – in the field of teaching and regarding specific painting techniques – as well as international networking.

From17 January to 1 February 2026, works by the teachers involved in the network were exhibited at the Akademie Galerie Nürnberg alongside works by their students. 

The exhibition is now travelling on to the University of Tsukuba in Japan. There, the works will be presented as part of Tsukuba Global Science Week – Materials × Crossing Borders: Dialogue through Painting Materials, complemented by lectures, gallery talks and workshops. 

The focus is on the various approaches to painting techniques, which extend to questions of material sustainability, economics and professionalisation, the relationship between painting and AI, and gender-specific aspects.

Representing the AdBK Nuremberg, Annett Stenzel, Head of the Painting Workshop, and student Kim Gündel will take part as exhibitors, co-organisers and coordinators of the hybrid gallery talks and the student workshop. Graduate Seungyeon Jo will introduce the AdBK Nuremberg exhibitors online during the hybrid gallery talk.

Surface Matter – an international exhibition on painting techniques

October 1–9, 2026

The extended version of exhibition is presented in connection with: TGSW2026 – Materials × Crossing Borders: Dialogue through Painting Materials
University of Tsukuba

Multipurpose Hall, University Hall

with contributions by:

Cosima Daum, Robin Wienhold, Avery Gia Sophie Schramm (Abk Stuttgart, Germany), Ruben Brückel, Boris Berber (AdBK Karlsruhe, Germany), Jannis Besen, Mercedes Corvinus, Anna Schaumberger, *Senshu Miya , Dr. Kathrin Kinseher (AdBK München, Germany), Kim Gündel, Seungyeon Jo, Lucia Müller, Kirill Nikulin, Annett Stenzel (AdBK Nürnberg, Germany), Prof. Bettina Scholz und The Sketchbook Collective (Alanus Hochschule, Mannheim, Germany), Fey Bradt, Karolin Kirchhof, Paul Robin Mader, Susanne Wurlitzer (Burg Giebichenstein, Halle, Germany), Claudia Bartholomäus, Jakob Dirkes, Uwe Siemens (HBK Braunschweig, Germany), Virginia Lorenzetti, Katrina Pennington, Dorothea Schmelzer, Maja Drachsel (HfBK Dresden, Germany), Eva Wochner, Carolin Kühn, Kurt Röll, Lisa Afken (HfBK Hamburg, Germany), Valerie Buchholz, Kaito Morita, Julian Nieschalk, Barbara Rosengarth (HFK Bremen, Germany), Ellen Klüser, Louis Wuttke, Reni Mothes (HGB Leipzig, Germany), Julia Paton, Tim Schmiedel, Miriam Thomahsen, Gesine Kikol (Universität Duisburg-Essen, Germany), Jacintha Nolte, Satu Soininen, Julia Rüther (Universität der Künste, Germany), Melanie Ramborger, Vanessa Zaggilés, Caroline Streck (Universität Siegen, Germany), Michaela Vega Hansson, Vinícius dos Santos, Kristina Janni Ståhl (Royal Institute of Art, Stockholm, Sweden), Flor Delgadillo, Olivia Ann Carye-Hallstein (former Tufts University, Boston, USA), Hiyoshi Ito, Aya Maeda, *Yukinagina Higuchi, Mutsumi Ozeki, Ayu Kitano, Riho Ueno, Shiori Ueno, Moeka Noguchi, Kurumi Inada, Satono Kan Yuka Aoyagi, Minori Miyazu, Rino Sasaki, Nao Nogata, Haru Suzuki, Minori Toyota, Reina Nambu, Hinako Otani, Misaki Sakamoto, Prof. Mika Hoshi (University of Tsukuba, Japan)

After its presentation the in Tsukuba, the exhibition will travel to the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm, Sweden.

supported by TGSW2026, Daiichi-Sankyo „Habataku“ Support Program for the Next Generation of Researchers, 2026 Strategic Project Grant Program, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Miyazaki Hina, Haruka Ogawa, Prof. Yoshihiro Torigoe (Yokohama University of Arts and Design, Japan) & zumikon Kulturstiftung & zumikon Kulturstiftung