Caroline Birkel M.A.
I'm Caroline Birkel from Trier, Germany. Working as a freelance Illustrator and Graphic Designer since 2014. While I like my graphic design quite clean, my illustrations and portraits are as messy and weird as I am. Spending a semester at the Academy of Fine Arts Gdańsk in Poland, I rediscovered my love for painting and printing techniques. I finished my Master’s Degree with honors at the University of Applied Sciences Trier where I took a deep dive into teaching and design thinking. I am madly in love with strange portraits, clean typography and joyful childrens books.
Exhibitions, Publications & Awards
2023 / Exhibition “Rock & Paper” featuring Cane Yo Artists at Ace Art Gallery in Gibraltar
2023 / Cane Yo Group Exhibition “Wish you were here2” at Dalek Art Gallery in Antwerp
from 13 – 28th of May and opening on Antwerp Art Weekend
2022 / Digital Exhibition in „Sketchbook Vol.2“, Blanco Gallery London
2022 / Interview „7aufeinenStrich“
2022 / Bookillustration of “Carlos – bei den Römern” published at Buchfinkverlag
2021 / Illustration Childrens Book „Was los Papa?“, SEKIS RLP
2020 / Member of the international and digital art collective “Cane Yo”
2020 / Bookillustration of “Carlos – Meine allerliebsten Lieblingsfreunde” published at Buchfinkverlag
2018 – 2020 / Holder of the Mary Somerville Scholarship, Lectureship “Gestaltungsgrundlagen 2D / Institut Intrare”
Teaching for Prof. Anna Bulanda-Pantalacci, University of Applied Sciences Trier
2019 / Bookillustration of “Carlos” published at Buchfinkverlag
2018 / Lecturer at “Tag der Lehre” University of Applied Sciences Trier
2018 / Exhibition Curator “Befrei dich vom Müll” Mergener Hof Trier
2017 / Special award “Lehrpreis der Hochschule Trier” for my Workshopconcept “Zeichnen Zirkeltraining”
2016 / Publication „Franz und Gloria – Lasercut Letterpress“
in the book “Making of Artistic Typefaces” from sendpoints.ch
2016 / Solo-Exhibition „Bunt Unbunt“ at Astarix Trier from June 1st – October 15th
2016 / Workshop Character Design 101– Teaching the basics of Character Design
2016 / Exhibition of the “Weird” Portraitseries at Kunstrasen Festival Trier
2016 / Essay publication “Lorem Ipsum-Ein alter Hut?” exhibition catalouge “Generator 2016.”
2015/16 / Features of my work „Franz und Gloria“ and typeface „Kalinka“ on the designplatforms luc.devroye.org, makamo.es and typeeverywhere.com
2015 / Publication of „Franz und Gloria – Lasercut Letterpress“ in the yearbook of the Hochschule Trier for Buchmesse Leipzig, showing the best works from 2010 – 2015
2014 / “MerhabaHalloHola” – Erasmus Exhibition in Gdańsk
2013 / „50° 5‘ N / 12° 22‘ O – Eine Ausstellung der Fotografie“ Photography group exhibition
2012 / Performance Art “Claypeople” at the Kultursommer Festival in Trier
2012 – 2013 / 1st Place Posterdesigncontest Gendermainstreaming with Travelexhibition of my winning poster through thirteen cities in RLP