André Schulze
Painted-Over Past
Through pixelated interventions and precise brushwork, German artist André Schulze revives overlooked imagery, inviting us to consider what fades, what remains, and what can be reimagined.
(Art) Early 1990, East Germany. The Berlin Wall has fallen, but the economic disadvantage of the East is still palpable. Across the former GDR (German Democratic Republic), landscapes of abandoned factories and crumbling infrastructure stand as remnants of a system in transition. Graffiti begins to appear as a form of artistic expression and political commentary, reclaiming public spaces and reflecting a sense of newfound freedom.
Artist and painting conservator André Schulze was growing up in Dresden around that time. He was only thirteen years old when he became fascinated by the movement and started spraying graffiti, exploring self-expression through street art. Later, after encountering limitations in his profession as a graphic designer, Schulze decided to further develop his artistic talents at the University of Fine Arts in Dresden, earning a master’s degree in 2013.
Drawn to analog photography, the young artist began documenting the GDR’s fading architecture—buildings slowly disappearing as they were torn down. His aim: to one day replicate these photographs as highly detailed, precise paintings. As he moved closer to that goal, Schulze began infusing the otherwise melancholic imagery with subtle humor, adding abstract elements and contemporary twists.
During the pandemic, Schulze began working with flea market paintings, further evolving his stylistic approach. He taught himself how to restore damaged works and layered them with his own modern interpretations through overpainting. “My art is about connecting the past with the aesthetics and visual language of today,” he explains.
This method has become his signature: a pixelated layer that breathes new life into forgotten vintage art, drawing the attention of viewers who might otherwise overlook it.
“My art is about connecting the past with the
aesthetics and visual language of today.”
“I’ve always been fascinated by the Old Masters,” he says. “They’ve been a constant source of inspiration for my work. In my vintage paintings, I have the opportunity to engage directly with historical pieces and stay closely connected to times gone by.” Some of the works from Schulze’s “Vintage Series,” featuring floral still lifes, were exhibited at Paradigm Gallery in Philadelphia.
In addition to these reworked found pieces, Schulze also explores contemporary themes, most recently focusing on the painter Caspar David Friedrich, whose works he has examined through a modern lens.