Riess Thomas

Thomas Riess was born in 1970 in Tyrol and currently lives and works in Vienna. After studying at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, in the Department of Graphic Arts and Visual Media, he graduated in 2001.

His artistic research moves between figuration and abstraction, developing a pictorial language of great technical refinement. Faces and bodies, often drawn from the contemporary media landscape, emerge with an almost photographic realism only to dissolve into shadows, glazes, and layers of color. This tension between presence and absence, recognizability and erasure, transforms his figures into icons suspended between reality and illusion.

Riess’s work addresses themes of identity, perception, and visual memory: images that appear familiar become enigmatic, revealing the fragility of our relationship with the visible. His works invite viewers to slow down their gaze and question the hidden meaning of images in an age dominated by visual overexposure.

Over the years, he has exhibited in museums and galleries internationally, including the Museum der Moderne in Salzburg, the Kunsthalle Krems, the Kunsthaus Zürich, the Künstlerhaus Wien, and the Museum Schloss Peuerbach. His works have been presented in major exhibitions such as the Venice Biennale (2013), the Ostrale Biennale in Dresden, and Art Miami, as well as in art fairs like Volta Basel, Art Karlsruhe, and Art Austria.

He has received scholarships and artist residencies in Italy, Croatia, and Austria, and was a finalist for prestigious awards such as the Schiele Award (2013). His works are part of important public and private collections, including the Salzburg Museum, the Ferdinandeum in Innsbruck, the BKA (Collection of the Republic of Austria), as well as corporate collections such as Red Bull and the Soravia Group.

Lux Bellator Licht schütteln

Oil on canvas – cm. 150 x 110

Idol

Oil on canvas – cm. 150 x 110

Verändern

Oil on canvas – cm. 80 x 50

Vision

Oil on canvas – cm. 80 x 60

Im Dunkeln sehen

Oil on canvas – cm. 150 x 110

Hinter hellen Schatten

Oil on canvas – cm. 110 x 150

Ikone goldener strahl

Oil on canvas – cm. 195 x 125

Inneres Bild

Oil on canvas – cm. 80 x 60

Lux Bellator Licht schütteln

Oil on canvas - cm. 150 x 110

Lux Bellator Licht schütteln

Oil on canvas - cm. 150 x 110

Enquire

Idol

Oil on canvas - cm. 150 x 110

Idol

Oil on canvas - cm. 150 x 110

Enquire

Verändern

Oil on canvas - cm. 80 x 50

Verändern

Oil on canvas - cm. 80 x 50

Enquire

Vision

Oil on canvas - cm. 80 x 60

Vision

Oil on canvas - cm. 80 x 60

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Im Dunkeln sehen

Oil on canvas - cm. 150 x 110

Im Dunkeln sehen

Oil on canvas - cm. 150 x 110

Enquire

Hinter hellen Schatten

Oil on canvas - cm. 110 x 150

Hinter hellen Schatten

Oil on canvas - cm. 110 x 150

Enquire

Ikone goldener strahl

Oil on canvas - cm. 195 x 125

Ikone goldener strahl

Oil on canvas - cm. 195 x 125

Enquire

Inneres Bild

Oil on canvas - cm. 80 x 60

Inneres Bild

Oil on canvas - cm. 80 x 60

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2025
Behind the curtain/Dietro il sipario – Violetti Arte Contemporanea, Siena (IT) (Solo)
I am I am not – EckMuseum of Art, Brunico (IT) (Solo)
Momentum – Museum Angerlehner, Wels (AUT)
Solo – House of Arts Hangar 7, Salzburg (AUT)
Holosphaeria – Rodler Gschwenter Gallery, Vienna (AUT) (Solo)
You shall make yourself an image – Künstlerhaus Wien, Vienna (AUT)
Boom – Kristine Hamann Gallery, Wismar (DEU)
Epiphany or the Doubt of the Atheist – EckMuseum of Art, Brunico (IT)

2024
Arttirol 10 – Tyrolian State Museum Ferdinandeum, Innsbruck (AUT)
Across the Universe – House of Arts Hangar 7, Salzburg (AUT)
Ode to two Worlds – Alessandro Casciaro Gallery, Bolzano (Solo with S. Micheli) (IT)
Hard and Soft and the Space between – Bachlechner Gallery, Graz (AUT)
Panoptical Blend #2 – SWV Wien, Vienna (AUT)
Sielecki Prize Videos – Stadtkino Künstlerhaus, Vienna (AUT)
Program – Bachlechner Gallery, Graz (AUT)

2023
Utopia – Kunst im Muth, Modulart Gallery, Vienna (AUT) (Solo)
New Realities – Kristine Hamann Gallery, Wismar (DEU)
Freiluftkunst – Art on LED-Screens, Vienna (AUT)
Seeds – Rondell Gallery, Bad Schwanberg (AUT)
Kosmos. Neue Welten – Museum Schloss Peuerbach, curated: Alfred Weidinger, Peuerbach (AUT)
millstART – Millstatt Monestry, Millstatt (AUT)
Ostrale Biennale 23 – Dresden (DEU)

2022
Tales of change – Kristine Hamann Gallery, mit Sissa Micheli, Wismar (DEU) (Solo)
Who are we / figuration today – Robert Drees Gallery, Hannover (DEU)
heim@schwaz.at, Museum Rabalderhaus, Schwaz (AUT)
…and it feels good – House of Art, Salzburg (AUT)
Deja Vu – Rodler Geschwenter Gallery, Thomas Riess/Christopher Rode, Vienna (AUT) (Solo)
Edith Stein – Loosing by Winning, Museum Monestry Stams, Stams (AUT)
Current – Heimo Bachlechner Gallery, Graz (AUT)
Das Blaue vom Himmel – Wolfrum Gallery, Vienna (AT)
Audi Artweek by Parnass – Jakob Gasteiger/Thomas Riess, Vienna (AUT)

2021
MARCK/RIESS, Licht Feld Gallery, Basel (CHE)
Wonderland – Elektrohalle Rhomberg, Salzburg (AUT) (Solo)
Come Together! Brennecke Fine Art, Berlin (DEU)
Der Strich durch die Rechnung – Thomas Riess/Markus Hofer, Bachlechner Gallery, Graz (AUT)
No man is an island, Künstlerhaus Wien, Vienna (AUT)
Summersetting: – Sixpack – Brennecke Fine Art, Berlin (DEU)
Unlocked! – Brennecke Fine Art, Berlin (DEU)

2020
Video Presentation “Out of Silence” (with Sissa Micheli), CerModern Museum, Ankara (TR)
Lockout – Museum Festung Franzensfeste, curated by Heinrich Schwarzer,Franzensfeste (ITA)
Video Presentation „Out of Silence“ Lumen Museum of Mountian Photography, Brunico (ITA)
Off the radar – Brennecke Fine Art, Berlin (DEU) (Solo)
New Realities II – Kodritsch/Riess/Schnur, Esterhammer+Messner Gallery, Vienna (AUT)
Kein halbes Dutzend – Bachlecher Gallery, Graz (AUT)
Winter Salon – Estermann+Messner Gallery, Vienna (AUT)
30 years – don ́t look back! – Brennecke Fine Art, Berlin (DEU)
Winter Salon – Kristine Hamann Gallery, Wismar (DEU)

2019
fly me tot he moon – Kunsthaus Zürich, curated by Cathérine Hug, Zürich (CHE)
ticket to the moon – Kunsthalle Krems, curated by Andreas Hoffer, Krems (AUT)
fly me tot he moon – Museum der Moderne Salzburg, curated by T. Teufel/Ch. Penetsdofer, Salzburg (AUT) 2019 Festa dell ́ Euregio, – Egna (ITA)
blurs & idols – ÖBV-Atrium, Vienna (AUT) (Solo)
the moving picture – basement, Vienna (AUT) (Solo with MARCK)
fluid reality – Art Space Recheis, curated by Julia Sparber-Ablinger Hall/T (AUT) (Solo)
Summer Exhibition – Heimo Bachlechner Gallery, Graz (AUT)

2018
The Isle of White – Kunstraum Arcade, Mödling (AUT) (Solo w. Larissa Leverenz)
Portfolio – Contemporary Art from South and North Tyrol, City Gallery Bolzano (ITA)
Sommer Salon –Kristine Hamann Gallery, Wismar (DEU)
The Isle of White Vol. II – Hrobsky Gallery, Vienna (AUT) (Solo w. Larissa Leverenz)
Winter Salon – Kristine Hamann Gallery, Wismar (DEU)

2017
Flow – Kristine Hamann Gallery, Wismar (DEU) (Solo)
Rencentre Wismar:Berlin – Semjon Contemporary Gallery – Galerie Kristine Hamann, Wismar (DEU)
Stratified. Fragmented world(s) – Das Weiße Haus, curated by G. Oberhollenzer/S. Schwendner, Vienna (AUT) 2017 Idols & Landscapes – Kunstforum Unterland, curated by Sabine Gamper, Neumarkt (ITA) (Solo)
Zoom – Hrobsky Gallery, Vienna (AUT) (Solo)
20 Years Kunstforum Unterland – Kunstforum Unterland, Neumarkt (ITA)
AHEAD of the Game – Künstlerhaus Klagenfurt, curated by Renée Gadsden, Klagenfurt (AUT)
Flower Power – Museum Artemons, Hellmonsödt/Linz (AUT)

2016
It’s Liquid – Art Expo, Rome (ITA)
Close Up – Kristine Hamann Gallery, Wismar (DEU)
Winterreigen – Schmidt Gallery, Reith/Alpbachtal (AUT)
Drawing Vienna IV – Hrobsky Gallery, Vienna (AUT)
Positions – Museum Artemons, Hellmonsödt/Linz (AUT)
Shift – Trapp Gallery, Salzburg (AUT)
6-2015 – Bäckerstrasse 4 Gallery, Post Zentrale, Vienna (AUT)

2015
The Collage Principle – Frohner Forum, curated by Elisabeth Voggeneder, Krems (AUT)
Inside-Out – Museum Artemons, Helmonsödt/Linz (AUT) (Solo)
Haberpointner/Riess – Schmidt Gallery, Hall/Tirol (AUT) (Solo)
After Picasso – Frohner Forum, curated by Günther Oberhollenzer, Krems (AUT)
Blur – Trapp Gallery, Salzburg (AUT) (Solo)
Stadt-Kunst-Innsburck. Art Acquisitions 2010-2015 – Stadtsäle Innsbruck, Innsbruck (AUT)
Timewise – Kristine Hamann Gallery, Wismar (DEU)
In the Middle of Time there is the Possibility of an Island – Hrobsky Gallery, Vienna (AUT) (Solo)

2014
The Future of Painting – Essl Museum, curated by Günther Oberhollenzer Klosterneuburg/Vienna (AUT)
Noise – Museum Stift Stams, Stams (AUT) (Solo)
Ostrale 14 – Mission O14, Dresden (DEU)
I am I am not. Selected – Art Box, Kitzbühel (AUT) (Solo)
I’m lovin’ it! – Fishpiece Gallery Kiosktabak, Zürich (CHE) (Solo)

2013
Personal Structures – 55. Biennale di Venezia, Palazzo Bembo, curated by S. Gold/K. De Jongh, Venice (ITA) 2013 I am I am not – artdepot Gallery, Innsbruck (AUT) (Solo)
Humans – Künstlerhaus Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt (AUT)
Humans – Prisma Gallery, Bolzano (ITA)
Content Art – iSphere Karlsplatz, Vienna (AUT)
Graurand – Palais Liechtenstein, Feldkirch (AUT)
A little bit of History deleting – Peithner-Lichtenfels Gallery, Vienna (AUT)

2012
out there. – Peithner-Lichtenfels Gallery, Vienna (AUT) (Solo)
art4barter – Seed on Diamond Gallery, Philadelphia (USA)
255 K. – Stadtmuseum Innsbruck, Innsbruck (AUT)
Me Myself & Them – Künstlerhaus Wien, Vienna (AUT)
Kontextillusionen – Haus der Kunst, Baden (AUT)
GAM 2012 – Global Astronomy Month, Rotterdam (NLD)
ANGeLa whEre are you? – Fishpiece Gallery, Zürich (CHE)
Halali. Die Jagd nach dem Zeitgenössischen – Peithner-Lichtenfels Gallery, Vienna (AUT)
Sofort Kunst! – Fishpiece Gallery, Zürich (CHE)

2011
Rooms – Schloss Porcia, Spittal/Drau (AUT) (Solo)
Nothing jumps over the Wall – Kunstraum Pettneu, Pettneu (AUT) (Solo)
Trans.form3 – Künstlerhaus Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt (AUT)

2010
Hybridität – artdepot Gallery, Innsbruck (AUT) (Solo w. Aron Demetz)
Capsule – Peithner-Lichtenfels Gallery, Vienna (AUT) (Solo)
Leaves from Innsbruck – St. Claude Gallery, New Orleans (USA)
Nord Art 2010 – KiC Carlshütte Büdelsdorf/Rendsburg (DEU)
RLB-Art Award – RLB-Kunstbrücke, Innsbruck (AUT)
Drawing Vienna – Peithner-Lichtenfels Gallery, Vienna (AUT)

2009
Art in the Studio – ORF-Kulturhaus, Innsbruck (AUT) (Solo)
Interspace – Stadtgalerie Brixen, Brixen (ITA) (Solo)
Roadhouse – The Front Gallery, New Orleans (USA)
Special Show for Young Art. Federal State of Tyrol – Art-Innsbruck, Innsbruck (AUT) (Solo)

2008
Essencia. Real Conceivability – Dep. of Fine Arts, University of New Orleans (USA) (Solo)
Spacetrip – Peithner-Lichtenfels Gallery, Vienna (AUT) (Solo)
Spacetrip II – Galerie im Andechshof, Innsbruck (AUT) (Solo)

2024 SoArt Residency, Millstatt (AUT)
2009-12 the @rtist’s kitchen, artist’s residence, Soravia Group, Vienna (AUT)
2010 Artist in Residence in Paliano/Rome (ITA) Scholarship of the Provincial Government of Tyrol (AUT)
2010 Artist in Residence, Kunstquartier Hotel Hospiz (AUT)
2009 Artist in Residence in Medulin (HRV)
2001 Artist in Residence in Paliano/Rome (ITA) Scholarship of the Provincial Government of Tyrol (AUT)
1999 Internationale Sommerakademie Salzburg, Scholarship of the Provincial Government of Salzburg (AUT)

2013 Schiele Award (Finalist) (AUT)
2010 RLB-Art Award (Finalist) (AUT)
2008 Arte Laguna Venezia (ITA)
2008 Welde Art Awart for Painting, Germany (DEU)
2005 Durst Art Award for Painting and Drawing, Austria (AUT)
2000 Stainach Art Award, Stainach/Irdning (AUT)

2025
Art Karlsruhe
Volta Basel
Art in the Park Vienna

2024
Art Vienna
Volta Basel
Art Karlsruhe
Art Austria, Museumsquartier, Wien (AT)

2023
Luxembourg Art Week, Luxemburg (LUX)
Art Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe (D)
Parallel Vienna (Solo) (AT)
Volta Basel (CH)
Art Austria, Wien (AT)
Art Vienna (AT)
Art Austria Highlights (AT)

2022
Art Miami, Miami (USA)
Art Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe (D)
Volta Basel (CH)
Art Austria, Museumsquartier, Wien (AUT)
Art Vienna, Schloss Schönbrunn, Wien (AUT)

2021
Art Miami, Florida (USA)
VOLTA Basel (CHE)
Art Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe (DEU)
Positions Art Fair 21, Berlin (DEU)
Art Austria Museumsquartier, Wien (AUT)

2020
Art Austria, Museumsquartier, Wien (AUT)
Baltic Art Week, Kunsthalle Rostock (DEU)
SIAF 20, Salzburg (AUT)
Art Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe (DEU)

2019
Baltic Art Week, Kunsthalle Rostock (DEU)
SIAF 2019, Salzburg (AUT)
Art Bodensee, Dornbirn (AUT)

2018
Art Austria, Palais Lichtenstein, Wien (AUT)
Art Bodensee, Dornbirn(AUT)
3. Roter Salon, Museum Villa Rot, Burgrieden (DEU)
Affordable Art Fair, Hamburg (DEU)

2017
Art Vienna, Leopold Museum, Wien  (AUT)
Art Bodensee, Dornbirn (AUT)

2016
Art Austria, Leopold Museum, Wien  (AUT)

2015
Art Austria, Leopold Museum, Wien  (AUT)
Vienna Contemporary, Marxhalle, Wien  (AUT)
Viennafair, Messehalle, Wien (AUT)

2014
Art Austria, Leopold Museum, Wien (AUT)

2012
Art Austria, Leopold Museum, Wien  (AUT)
Art Fair, Köln (DE)

2011
Munich Contempo, art fair, München (DEU) 
Art Austria, Leopold Museum, Wien (AUT)
Munich Contempo, art fair, München (DEU) 
Art Austria, Leopold Museum, Wien (AUT)

2010
Art Austria, Leopold Museum, Wien  (AUT)
Art Fair 21, Köln (DEU)

2008
Arte Padova, Padova (ITA)

Collection Salzburg Museum (AUT)
Collection BKA Collection of the Federal Government of Austria (AUT)
Collection Tyrolean State Museum Ferdinandeum, Innsbruck (AUT)
Collection of the Government of Tyrol (AUT)
Collection of the City of Innsbruck (AUT)
Collection of the City of Salzburg (AUT)
Collection of the City of Imst (AUT)
Collection Hypo Tirol Bank, Innsbruck (AUT)
Collection Raiffeisen Bozen (ITA)
Collection Red Bull
Collection Soravia Group, Vienna (AUT)
Collection ÖBV, Vienna (AUT)
Collection Urban (AUT)
Collection Hauser (AUT)
Collection Finstral (ITA)

Several national and international publications