Jonny Star facts for kids

Jonny Star (born December 26, 1964) is a German artist. She was born in Düsseldorf, Germany. Until 2011, she used her birth name, Gabriele-Maria Scheda, for her art. Today, Jonny Star lives and works in both Berlin, Germany, and New York City, United States.

About Jonny Star's Life

Jonny Star spent her first ten years in Düsseldorf. Later, she moved with her family to the Hochsauerland region. Her parents opened a special hotel there. This hotel became a popular vacation spot for artists and theater people from Düsseldorf in the 1970s.

In 1982, Jonny Star moved to West Berlin. She became part of the city's lively youth culture. In 1990, she finished high school in Berlin. From 1991 to 1996, she studied Psychology at the TU Berlin.

Between 1985 and 1992, Jonny Star helped run a famous bar called Café Anfall in Berlin-Kreuzberg. She also traveled a lot to countries like France, Spain, the US, Mexico, and many others. In 1996, she started working as a professional artist.

From 1997 to 1999, she learned how to make molds and cast bronze. She learned this at a well-known art foundry in Berlin. She also spent a lot of time in Portugal between 1999 and 2005.

Besides making her own art, Jonny Star has also organized many international art shows. These include projects like Showroom Berlin, JONNY'S, SWEET HOME, and SUPERUSCHI. She has shown her art around the world since 1996.

Jonny Star's Artistic Work

Jonny Star uses many different materials and art forms in her work. She often mixes them together. For example, she uses bronze, photography, fabric, and special art setups. She usually creates groups of artworks called "series" that she works on for several years.

In her early bronze sculptures, like Dear Germaine (1998), she made imaginary human-like figures. These sculptures explored ideas like heavy and light, or moving and staying still. They also looked at feelings like being trapped or suffering.

In other bronze series, such as alle zusammen (2001), she added natural items she found. These could be things like branches or stones.

Some of her art series, like JETZT KOMM ICH (2007), are about her own life story. She also made soft, cushion-like art pieces for walls, such as My Flowerself (2010). These works often have a personal, everyday feel.

In 2011, she changed her name from Gabriele-Maria Scheda to Jonny Star. After this, her art often explored themes like the human body, who we are (our identity), and how society sees gender roles.

Art Shows She Organized

Jonny Star creates group art shows in different places. Sometimes they are in her own home, or in art galleries and project spaces. She makes these spaces feel cozy, like a private space.

Her main goal is to bring artists and visitors together. She wants to create a feeling of community. She also wants people to see how important art is in their daily lives. She doesn't just see herself as a curator (someone who plans art shows). Instead, she sees herself as someone who helps people have a shared art experience. These shows are not about making money. They have been supported by the Berlin government or by people donating money online.

Jonny's (2007–2009)

Jonny's started as a Portuguese shop and cafe in part of Jonny Star's apartment in Berlin. It sold special foods and goods from Portugal. But Jonny's was actually a big art installation. It also showed art from different artists. You could see sculptures, collages, and paintings mixed in with the food and household items. This project showed how art and everyday life can be connected. They also held art openings, performances, and talks with artists regularly.

Sweet Home (2011–2013)

In March 2011, Jonny Star started the Sweet Home project. It grew out of her earlier Jonny's project. These shows also took place in her apartment. She invited artists from around the world to show their work in her decorated living room. During the art openings, she set up a Portuguese bar with food and drinks. In December 2011, Sweet Home was even invited to show at the SCOPE Art Show Miami, a big art fair in the USA.

Superuschi (since 2013)

The Superuschi exhibition series began in March 2013. It followed her Sweet Home and Jonny's projects. In Superuschi, international artists work with Jonny Star to explore a specific theme. The shows create a way for the space, the art, the artists, and the guests to interact. This helps artists connect with each other. It also lets visitors get more involved in visual and performance art. The Superuschi show "kitchen girls & toy boys" in New York City in 2015 received support from the Berlin government.

Awards and Grants

• 2016 Ruth Katzman Stipend, The League Residency At Vyt, New York
• 2014 Travel Grant Cultural Exchange of the Berlin Senate Cultural Affairs Department, supported group show in NYC curated by Jonny Star (SUPERUSCHI)

Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions (selection)

• 2017 The Cycle Room, Atelierhof Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany
• 2017 The Undone Ritual, 266 chashama, New York City, USA
• 2017 Fire, Botschaft at Uferhallen, Berlin, Germany
• 2016 See Me, Feel Me, Touch Me, Heal Me, Kosmetiksalo Bar Babette, Berlin, Germany
• 2015 MY WAY, Kreuzberg Pavilion, Berlin, Germany
• 2014 INTERGALAKTISCH, ROMPONE artspace, Cologne, Germany
• 2014 le puff, Tatau Obscur, Berlin, Germany
• 2012 good for you, Klötze und Schinken, Berlin, Germany
• 2010 my flowerself, Crystal Ball Gallery, Berlin, Germany
• 2010 JETZT KOMM ICH, Haus am Lützowplatz / Studiogalerie, Berlin, Germany
• 2006 lang lang, Galeria Abraço, Lisbon, Portugal
• 2004 suchen eine reise, Porca Preta Gallery, Monchique, Portugal
• 2002 alle zusammen, Pasteur im Milchhof, Berlin, Germany
• 2002 DU LIEBE, Pasteur im Milchhof, Berlin, Germany
• 2001 alle zusammen, Centro Cultural, Vila do Bispo, Portugal
• 2000 werde fliegen, Gallery Foro, Loulé, Portugal
• 1999 and suddenly, schrotter & engel, Berlin, Germany
• 1996 Weltstadt Berlin, schrotter & engel, Berlin, Germany

Group Exhibitions (selection)

• 2021 entFALTUNG curated by Carolyn Heinz and Franziska Storch (SALOON Hamburg), Galerie Carolyn Heinz, Hamburg, Germany
• 2021 PERSPECTIVES - Tomorrow is the question, curated by Madeleine Schwinge, re:future Lab, Berlin, Germany
• 2020 Support, Walden Kunstausstellungen, Berlin, Germany
• 2020 Fifty/Fifty. The Matter Of Duality, curated by Grigori Dor and Mascha Naumova, Paul Fleischmann Haus, Berlin, Germany
• 2020 How beautiful you are! curated by Maik Schierloh, KINDL – Centre for Contemporary Art, Berlin, Germany
• 2019 Künstlergeld aus der Sammlung Haupt, Verband Deutscher Bürgschaftsbanken, Berlin, Germany
• 2018 Carpets, Katharina Maria Raab Gallery, Belin, Germany
• 2018 Wonder Woman ART b!tch curated by Britta (Helbig) Adler, Kosmetiksalon Babett, Berlin, Germany
• 2018 Geld - Wahn - Sinn, Haupt Collection at Reinbeckhallen curated by Lena Fließbach, Reinbeckhallen Berlin, Germany
• 2018 NGORONGORO II, Artistweekend Berlin at Jonas Burgert, Berlin, Germany
• 2018 Ein Turm von Unmöglichkeiten, (Salon Hansa), Galerie König, Berlin, Germany
• 2017 Mein lieber Freund und Kupferstecher, Haupt Collection, Verband Deutscher Bürgschaftsbanken, Berlin, Germany
• 2017 BERLIN-KLONDYKE 2017, UGM Studio, Maribor, Slovenija
• 2016 Der Flug der Königinnen. Women at work., ROMPONE artspace, Cologne, Germany
• 2016 Erste Botschaft: frohe Botschaft, Botschaft in den Uferhallen, Berlin, Germany
• 2015 You Can Feel It, Haus am Lützowplatz / Studiogalerie, Berlin, Germany
• 2015 CE QUI JE SUIS MAINTENANT – Ein Zimmer für Alfred Flechtheim, curated by Claudia Cosmo, Osthaus Museum Hagen, Germany
• 2015 4 Years and Counting!, Juror selection of Omar Lopez Chahoud, Noospere Arts, New York City
• 2015 kitchen girls & toy boys, Rush Arts Gallery, New York City, USA
• 2014 viel ARBEIT_wenig Rot, Salon Hansa, rosa lux, Berlin, Germany
• 2014 CE QUI JE SUIS MAINTENANT – Ein Zimmer für Alfred Flechtheim, curated by Claudia Cosmo, ROMPONE artspace, Cologne, Germany
• 2014 aussen hui, innen pfui with Elke Graalfs, MONTAGEHALLE, Berlin, Germany
• 2014 My Paper Sunglasses, curated by Otavio Santiago, Somos Art House, Berlin, Germany
• 2014 head / body, curated by CHAMBER OF FINE ARTS, souterrain, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2013 Kunst und Banausen, curated by Elke Graalfs, Walden Gallery, Berlin, Germany
• 2012 Warhol is over, Robert Fontaine Gallery, Miami, USA
• 2010 Topsy Freerider! Le Trans Tier Salon, Crystal Ball Gallery, Berlin, Germany
• 2002 Mitten ins Herz, Gallery Tammen & Busch, Berlin, Germany

Art in Private Collections

Jonny Star's artworks are also part of several private collections, including:

• Heilhausstiftung Ursa Paul, Kassel, Germany
• Sparkasse Hochsauerland, Germany
• Haupt Collection, Berlin, Germany