Olaf Kaulen

Olaf Kaulen is a self-taught artist based in Hamburg who works primarily with oil and acrylic paints. His paintings merge photorealistic studies of the human form with surreal, dreamlike environments, moving fluidly between urban scenes and elegant figures. His distinctive and bold style is shaped by curiosity and often carries a meditative, melancholic humor. Alongside urban and figurative subjects, Kaulen’s work includes nature motifs and still lifes. He has also produced a substantial body of cartoons, with a new series forthcoming. Before pursuing art full-time, Kaulen worked as a trained tax clerk in the financial departments of international companies and in a hospital. He typically works at night, motivated by the drive to realize his creative ideas over long, uninterrupted periods.