BIO
Ian Waelder (b. 1993, Madrid) is a Spanish-American artist and publisher. He divides his time between Mallorca, his hometown, and Frankfurt am Main, where he studied at the Städelschule with Prof. Haegue Yang.
His practice explores memory and trace by isolating archival histories and language in relation to his biography, working through the poetics of the accident and the repurposing of the discarded. Waelder’s work unfolds through the mediums of photography, sculpture, sound and installation.
Among his solo exhibitions, we find cadence (carlier | gebauer, Berlin, 2025); even in a language that is not your own (diez gallery, LISTE Basel, 2024); Here Not Today (Super Super Markt, Berlin, 2024); even in a language that is not your own (curated by Francesco Giaveri at Es Baluard Contemporary Art Museum, Palma, 2023-2024); mezzo staccato (romantic gestures) (Galerie Rolando Anselmi, Rome, 2023); Is it like today? (ethall gallery, Barcelona, 2022); Why aren’t they all like that, as I should be? (L21 Gallery, Palma, 2021); Teo’s Pink Panther (Las Palmas, Lisboa, 2019); We feel untied, but why? (curated by Sonia Fernández Pan at Centro Párraga, Murcia, 2018); Who Would Be Interested in an Empty Parking Lot? (The Finnish Museum of Photography, Helsinki, 2018); The Noise, The Traces and Marks (LOCAL Arte Contemporáneo, Santiago de Chile, 2015).
Group exhibitions include venues such as Petrine (Paris), carlier | gebauer (Berlin), Fundació Antoni Tàpies (Barcelona), Delfina Foundation (London), Francis Irv (New York), Kunstverein Wiesen (Wiesen), Tatjana Pieters Gallery (Ghent), Nassauischer Kunstverein (Wiesbaden), Galerie Rolando Anselmi (Rome and Atina), Salón (Madrid), Tabacalera (Madrid) and La Casa Encendida (Madrid).
He has participated in publications and readings as part of Mark von Schlegell’s seminar Pure Fiction at the Kölnischer Kunstverein (Cologne), Kunsthalle Portikus (Frankfurt am Main), Johanne (Frankfurt am Main), and Ashley (Berlin).
Artist in residency at WIELS (Brussels) in 2024, and previously in other artist residencies such as HANGAR – Centro de Investigação Artística Lisboa (2016) and NauEstruch Sabadell (2015).
In recent years he’s been awarded the DZ BANK Art Foundation Grant 2023/24 (next to the artist Maryam Jafri) and the Städelschule Portikus e.V Graduation Prize 2023.
Since 2019 and in parallel to his artistic practice, he runs Printer Fault Press, a small-scale publishing house for books, editions and a variety of projects with other artists and writers.
CV
UPCOMING
2025
EDUCATION
2017 - 2023
RESIDENCIES
2024
2016
2015
SOLO AND TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2019
2018
2016
2015
2014
2013
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
PUBLICATIONS
2024
2023
2021
2020
2019
AWARDS/GRANTS
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2013
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
WORK IN COLLECTIONS
Ian Waelder (b. 1993, Madrid) is a Spanish-American artist and publisher. He divides his time between Mallorca, his hometown, and Frankfurt am Main, where he studied at the Städelschule with Prof. Haegue Yang.
His practice explores memory and trace by isolating archival histories and language in relation to his biography, working through the poetics of the accident and the repurposing of the discarded. Waelder’s work unfolds through the mediums of photography, sculpture, sound and installation.
Among his solo exhibitions, we find cadence (carlier | gebauer, Berlin, 2025); even in a language that is not your own (diez gallery, LISTE Basel, 2024); Here Not Today (Super Super Markt, Berlin, 2024); even in a language that is not your own (curated by Francesco Giaveri at Es Baluard Contemporary Art Museum, Palma, 2023-2024); mezzo staccato (romantic gestures) (Galerie Rolando Anselmi, Rome, 2023); Is it like today? (ethall gallery, Barcelona, 2022); Why aren’t they all like that, as I should be? (L21 Gallery, Palma, 2021); Teo’s Pink Panther (Las Palmas, Lisboa, 2019); We feel untied, but why? (curated by Sonia Fernández Pan at Centro Párraga, Murcia, 2018); Who Would Be Interested in an Empty Parking Lot? (The Finnish Museum of Photography, Helsinki, 2018); The Noise, The Traces and Marks (LOCAL Arte Contemporáneo, Santiago de Chile, 2015).
Group exhibitions include venues such as Petrine (Paris), carlier | gebauer (Berlin), Fundació Antoni Tàpies (Barcelona), Delfina Foundation (London), Francis Irv (New York), Kunstverein Wiesen (Wiesen), Tatjana Pieters Gallery (Ghent), Nassauischer Kunstverein (Wiesbaden), Galerie Rolando Anselmi (Rome and Atina), Salón (Madrid), Tabacalera (Madrid) and La Casa Encendida (Madrid).
He has participated in publications and readings as part of Mark von Schlegell’s seminar Pure Fiction at the Kölnischer Kunstverein (Cologne), Kunsthalle Portikus (Frankfurt am Main), Johanne (Frankfurt am Main), and Ashley (Berlin).
Artist in residency at WIELS (Brussels) in 2024, and previously in other artist residencies such as HANGAR – Centro de Investigação Artística Lisboa (2016) and NauEstruch Sabadell (2015).
In recent years he’s been awarded the DZ BANK Art Foundation Grant 2023/24 (next to the artist Maryam Jafri) and the Städelschule Portikus e.V Graduation Prize 2023.
Since 2019 and in parallel to his artistic practice, he runs Printer Fault Press, a small-scale publishing house for books, editions and a variety of projects with other artists and writers.
CV
UPCOMING
2025
- (group) Burn The Diaries, Read Them Out Loud. Curated by Gina Merz. Kunsthalle Wien – Karlsplatz. Vienna (AT)
- (fair) Art Basel, with carlier | gebauer. Basel (CH)
- (group) Basel Social Club, with diez & carlier | gebauer. Basel (CH)
- (residency) Laurenz-House Residency. Laurenz Haus Stiftung. Basel (CH)
EDUCATION
2017 - 2023
- Hochschule für Bildende Künste - Städelschule, Frankfurt am Main (DE)
RESIDENCIES
2024
- WIELS Center for Contemporary Art, Brussels (BE)
2016
- HANGAR - Centro de Investigação Artística, Lisboa (PT)
2015
- NauEstruch, Sabadell (ES)
SOLO AND TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2025
- cadence. carlier | gebauer, Berlin (DE)
2024
- even in a language that is not your own. LISTE Art Fair Basel with diez, Basel (CH)
- Here Not Today. Super Super Markt, Berlin (DE)
- Bystander (Moth Joke). Curated by Isabelle Tondre. Neuer Kunstverein, Gießen (DE)
2023
- even in a language that is not your own. Curated by Francesco Giaveri. Es Baluard Contemporary Art Museum, Palma (ES)
- mezzo staccato (romantic gestures), Galerie Rolando Anselmi, Rome (IT)
2022
- Is it like today?, ethall gallery, Barcelona (ES)
2021
- ¿Por qué no son todos así, como yo debiera ser?” (Why aren’t they all like that, as I should be?), L21. Palma (ES)
2019
- Solo Project. Present Future Section at Artissima, Torino (IT)
- Teo’s Pink Panther. Las Palmas. Lisbon (PT)
2018
- Das Kniegelenk. L21. Palma (ES)
- we feel untied, but why?. Curated by Sonia Fernández Pan. Centro Párraga, Murcia (ES)
- Who would be interested in an empty parking lot?. Project Space. Finnish Museum of Photography. Helsinki (FI)
2016
- SUEDE. L21. Palma (ES)
- Professional Portraits. Dustin Marisa Jason Ray Mark (an excerpt). El Poste Carlos, Santander (ES)
- Dear Leg,. (w/ Bel Fullana). Bacelos Gallery. Madrid (ES)
- Ruido. (w/ Èlia Llach). Ana Mas Projects Gallery. Barcelona (ES)
- Photographs. Fundació Forvm. Tarragona (ES)
2015
- To play with heights with a kind of void. DAFO Projectes. Curator: Jordi Antas. Lleida (ES)
- El Biombo y el Eco (w/ Felipe Mujica). Salón. Curated by Carolina Castro Jorquera. Madrid (ES)
- The noise, the traces and the marks. LOCAL Arte Contemporáneo. Santiago de Chile (CL)
- Believe Me, I Tried. Chirivella Soriano Foundation. Valencia (ES)
2014
- After a Hippie Jump. L21, Madrid (ES)
2013
- Cover. Espazo Miramemira. Santiago de Compostela (ES)
- Side/Walk. Palma Photo ‘13. L21. Palma (ES)
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025
- Surrounding You: Part II. carlier | gebauer, Berlin (DE)
- Yours truly (working title). Curated by and the editions. Callirrhoë, Athens (GR)
- Maresfield Gardens. Petrine, Paris (FR)
2024
- There’s More ot the Problem. Curated by Francesco Giaveri. META Spatiu, Timisoara (RO)
- Open School – Open Studios Day WIELS Artist Residency. WIELS Centre for Contemporary Art, Brussels (BE)
- Förderstipendium 2023/2024. Kunststiftung DZ Bank, Frankfurt am Main (DE)
- Prender la mirada. Curated by Esmeralda Gómez Galera. Casal Solleric, Palma (ES)
- Identities. Curated by Jonathan Levy. Rothschild & Co, Zürich (CH)
- Un cuarto cálido (Toma estas paredes por piel) – Avelino Marín Collection. Sala Verónicas, Murcia (ES)
- The Invisible Structure of the Universe: Part II. carlier | gebauer, Berlin (DE)
- I Opened the Curtain to See What Lays Behind. carlier | gebauer, Berlin (DE)
- Personal Showcase II. Galerie Rolando Anselmi, Rome (IT)
- Attitudes Bootlegged (SHH...). La Galerie Imaginaire. Online.
2023
- A=A, B=B. Curated by Pep Vidal. Fundació Antoni Tàpies, Barcelona (ES)
- Tearoom Relay – Pit Stop. Delfina Foundation, London (UK)
- Moving In. Super Super Markt, Berlin (DE)
- Art-O-Rama Marseille with ethall gallery. Friche la Belle de Mai, Marseille (FR)
- GROTTO. Städelschule Graduates. Curated by Melissa Destino. Danziger Platz 12, Frankfurt am Main (DE)
- Rocking Meadows. Curated by Sung Tieu. Kunstverein Wiesen, Wiesen (DE)
- Stick n Poke. Curated by Alana Alireza & Geraldine Belmont. FOMO Art Space, Zurich (CH)
- Search Party – Ben Edmunds invites friends. Tatjana Pieters Gallery, Ghent (BE)
- Balusters. Francis Irv, New York (US)
2022
- ...and then night! Curated by Aurélien Le Genissel. Rodríguez Gallery, Poznań (PL)
- Losing by winning - Edith Stein. Curated by Dr. Hubert Salden. Museum Stift Stams (AT)
- Three course menu. Curated by Curatorial Studies (Städelschule/Goethe University). Fffriedrich, Frankfurt am Main (DE)
- The Hotel Show. Curated by Anna-Lisa Scherfose, Alke Heykes, Sarah Müller, Seda Pesen. Pearl Hotel, Frankfurt am Main (DE)
2021
- WALKING, RUNNING, FALLING. Curated by Francesco Giaveri. L21 LAB, Palma de Mallorca (ES)
- I've got a suitcase of memories that I almost left behind. Time after time. Joey Ramone Gallery. Rotterdam (NL)
- Future School, Korean Pavilion. Venice Architecture Biennale (IT)
- Touch Release. In collab with Tom Engels. Nassauischer Kunstverein Wiesbaden (DE)
- Going nowhere. SPOILER. Berlin (DE)
2020
- UN MOMENTO ATEMPORAL. 35 AÑOS DE CREACIÓN INJUVE, curated by David Armengol at Tabacalera, Madrid (ES)
- The Hawt Show II. Galerie Rolando Anselmi. Atina (IT)
- El instante antes de que algo suceda. Curated by Allelón (María Lucía Marcote García & Adriana A. Leanza). IEB booth, ARCO Madrid (ES)
- Sunday Show. Laurel Project Space. Amsterdam (NL)
2019
- From Outside Or From Within But From Another Angle. Joey Ramone Gallery. Rotterdam (NL)
- Open Mike. Pure Fyction Workshop. Kölnischer Kunstverein. Cologne (DE)
- Pure Fyction Mausoleum. Johanne. Frankfurt am Main (DE)
- Rundgang. Städelschule. Frankfurt am Main (DE)
2018
- Ver as vozes dos artistas. Curated by Miguel von Hafe Pérez. Metro do Porto (PT)
- Rundgang. Städelschule. Frankfurt am Main (DE)
2017
- Lockers V2. Curated by Diego Díez. Stedelijk Museum. Amsterdam (NL)
- Ayudas a la Creación INJUVE. Sala Amadís. Madrid (ES)
2016
- LENGUAJE. L21. Palma de Mallorca (ES)
- Biennal d’Art Ciutat d’Amposta. Lo Pati. Amposta (ES)
- Do you believe?. Fabra i Coats Centre D’Art. Barcelona (ES)
- Statement. L21 Gallery. Madrid (ES)
2015
- Artists in residence at NauEstruch. Campanar de Sant Félix. Sabadell (ES)
- Ciutat de Palma. Casal Solleric. Palma de Mallorca (ES)
2014
- The Apartment (piloto). L21. Palma de Mallorca (ES)
- AGRICULTORS. Curator: Sema D’Acosta. Sant Andreu Contemporani. Barcelona (ES)
- Queso de cobra. Casas da Hedra. Santiago de Compostela (ES)
- Ende der party. Tokonoma. Kassel. (DE)
- Present Indicatiu. Fabra i Coats. Barcelona (ES)
- Aprender a caer. Inéditos. Curator: Ángel Calvo Ulloa. La Casa Encendida. Madrid (ES)
- Misha Bies Golas: 27 Negros. Contemporary Art Center of Galicia (CGAC) Santiago de Compostela (ES)
- Behind the scenes. CAC Ses Voltes. Mallorca (ES)
- ¿Por qué la noche…?. Panal361. Buenos Aires (AR)
- Sobre el muro. Curator: Ángel Calvo Ulloa. L21. Madrid (ES)
- Ciutat de Palma. Casal Solleric. Palma de Mallorca (ES)
2013
- RAL 9005. L21. Madrid (ES)
- Art Jove. Ses Voltes. Palma de Mallorca (ES)
PUBLICATIONS
2024
-
Here Not Today. Published by Super Super Markt
- Un Cuarto Cálido (Toma Estas Paredes Por Piel) – COLECCIÓN AVELINO MARÍN.
Published by Sala Verónicas
2023
- GROTTO. Published by Hochschule für Bildende Künste–Städelschule
2021
- Federico Waelder (FRIEDRICH) - Heutigen Records
- Breadcrumb. Art & Sandwiches. Ed. Cristina Ramos & Eliot Z. Felde. Published by Onomatopee Projects
2020
- Ich Bin Sandra (Nine Poems) – On a workshop by Karl Holmqvist. Published by Printer Fault Press
2019
- Ian Waelder – Looking, Finding, Living, Sharing. Published by Printer Fault Press
AWARDS/GRANTS
2025
-
HAP – Hessisches Atelier Programm 2025/2029, basis, Frankfurt am Main (DE)
2024
- Friends of Liste Support. LISTE Art Fair, Basel (CH)
2023
- Städelschule Portikus e.V. Absolventenpreis
- Kunststiftung DZ Bank Förderstipendium 2023/24. Frankfurt am Main (DE)
2022
- Art Nou Prize - Barcelona Art Galleries. Barcelona (ES)
- Art-O-Rama Prize - Art Nou Primera Visió. Barcelona Art Galleries. Barcelona (ES)
- Städelschule Rundgang “Felix von Saucken” Prize. Städelschule. Frankfurt (DE)
2021
- Deutschlandstipendium. Städelschule. Frankfurt (DE)
2013
- Full Contact Prize. SCAN Photography Festival, Tarragona (ES)
- Honor Mention. Premi Ciutat de Palma, Mallorca (ES)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2025
- “Falling Notes: Ian Waelder at carlier | gebauer” – Review by Gabriela Acha for Berlin Art Link (online)
- Watchlist – Monopol Magazine. By Silke Hohmann (print & online)
- “cadence” at carlier | gebauer. Exhibition text by Chus Martínez (online)
2024
- “From Memory” by Christian Rattemeyer. OSMOS Magazine Issue 27 (print)
- “Das Geheimnis des Lebens / The Secret of Life” by Christina Leber. Kunststiftung DZ BANK (print)
- “Haptic Memory” Interview by Marie Oucheriff. PW Magazine (online)
- “Ian Waelder: Today’s News Will Always Be Tomorrow’s History”by Carina Bukuts. MOUSSE Magazine #88 (print & online)
- “What Remains” interview by Àngels Miralda for Daily Lazy (print)
- Review by Emile Rubino of the solo exhibition “even in a language that is not your own”at Es Baluard Contemporary Art Museum, Palma. PROVENCE Magazine March Newsletter (online)
- “Cooking Slowly”. Review by Phin Jennings. émergent magazine (online)
2023
- Exhibition text by Francesco Giaveri – Booklet “Even in a language that is not your own”. Es Baluard Contemporary Art Museum Palma (print & online)
- Conversation between Ian Waelder and Francesco Giaveri – Booklet “Even in a language that is not your own” Es Baluard Contemporary Art Museum Palma (print & online)
- “Images For Times When Language Fails Us” by Carina Bukuts – Booklet “Even in a language that is not your own” Es Baluard Contemporary Art Museum Palma (print & online)
2022
- “How to draw a family tree” – Review by Luisa Del Prete. Exhibition “Is It Like Today?” – ethall gallery, Barcelona. PASSE-AVANT Magazine (online)
2021
WORK IN COLLECTIONS
-
Kunststiftung DZ BANK, Frankfurt (DE)
- Es Baluard Contemporary Art Museum, Mallorca (ES)
- Palma City Council Collection, Mallorca (ES)
- Camper Foundation, Mallorca (ES)
- BRAUNSFELDER Family Collection, Cologne (DE)
- Rothschild & Co, Zürich (CH)
CONTACT:
carlier | gebauer (Berlin/Madrid)
mail[at]carliergebauer.com
www.carliergebauer.com
diez (Amsterdam)
diego[at]diez.gallery
www.diez.gallery
Email:
com[at]ianwaelder.info
Instagram:
@ianwaelder
carlier | gebauer (Berlin/Madrid)
mail[at]carliergebauer.com
www.carliergebauer.com
diez (Amsterdam)
diego[at]diez.gallery
www.diez.gallery
Email:
com[at]ianwaelder.info
Instagram:
@ianwaelder