From Club to Canvas: Berlin’s DJs Who Became Visual Artists
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Berlin is famous for many things – its gritty clubs, genre-defining techno, and all-night raves. But what happens when the music stops and the decks are packed away?
For some of Berlin’s most well-known DJs, creativity doesn’t end with sound. In fact, a growing number of them are stepping out of the booth and picking up a brush, spray can, or tablet. They’re expressing themselves in ways you might not expect – through paintings, photography, sculpture, and digital art.
Here’s a look at some of the DJs who are remixing the Berlin art scene in 2024 – this time visually.
1. Marcel Dettmann – Industrial Rhythms on Canvas
One of Berghain’s resident legends, Marcel has started translating his love for raw, repetitive structure into visual form. His recent exhibition at a Kreuzberg warehouse-turned-gallery features stark monochrome canvases inspired by techno loops and brutalist architecture.
🎧 Still playing? Yes – monthly sets across Europe
🎨 Art style: Minimalist, grayscale, abstract
📍 Where to see: RAW-Gelände pop-up gallery, summer 2024
2. rRoxymore – Soundscapes into Shapes
Known for her experimental sound and deep textures, rRoxymore is now also creating digital art inspired by synesthesia – her works often “look” like her tracks sound. Expect vibrant waves, layered transparencies, and motion-in-stillness.
🎧 Still active: Performing live AV shows
🎨 Art style: Generative art, digital layering
📍 Where to see: Silent Green Kulturquartier, Wedding
3. DJ Gigola – From Vinyl to Vivid
Always one to surprise, DJ Gigola has dived into mixed media pieces that blend club flyers, fabrics, and found objects from Berlin’s party history. It’s part nostalgia, part social commentary, and completely Berlin.
🎧 Still DJing: YES, and still unpredictable
🎨 Art style: Collage, feminist pop-art
📍 Where to see: Galerie Noah Klink, Schöneberg
4. Len Faki – Light + Noise Experiments
Faki’s known for powerful sets, but his visual art takes a more subtle turn. Using light installations and sound-reactive projections, he creates immersive spaces you feel. His recent “Pulse Room” installation drew lines of clubbers and collectors alike.
🎧 Still in the game: Big festivals, club residencies
🎨 Art style: Kinetic light art, immersive experiences
📍 Where to see: Kraftwerk Berlin, special summer exhibit
5. Paula Temple – Rage, Deconstructed
Temple’s music often carries political weight, and her new visual work is no different. Her abstract paintings – mostly in harsh reds and blacks – tackle themes like surveillance, resistance, and emotional intensity.
🎧 Occasionally
🎨 Art style: Expressionist, politically charged
📍 Where to see: Bethanien Kunstraum, Kreuzberg
More Than Just a Beat
In a city that breathes art and sound equally, it’s no surprise that Berlin’s creative minds don’t stay boxed in. These artists prove that the spirit of techno isn’t just heard – it’s seen, felt, and now exhibited.
So next time you’re in a gallery, take a closer look. That “new artist” on the wall might’ve been the one who made you dance till 6am last weekend.
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