Interview: Katja Lührs
Luca Curci talks with Katja Lührs, WINNER of ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2024 Competition

Katja Lührs was born in Germany. Discovered at the age of eighteen by New York fashion photographer Mike Reinhardt and has worked for magazines at home and abroad. She received her training as an author and journalist at Burda Verlag. She worked as a presenter for ZDF and ARD (public television in Germany. As well as for ORF in Austria with the program “Fun in the Snow”. An art and design training course with ArtTabea Caren. A training course in conversation and hypnosis therapy at the Institut Erhard Freitag Hypnosis Center Munich and a medically certified yoga teacher training at the Institut Scharnagl Munich.

Luca Curci – What influences your work? What inspires you? Why do you make art?
Katja Lührs – I am inspired by nature and its diversity. Even as a child, I loved to draw and paint and make up stories to go with it. Later I worked as a fashion and jewelry designer and had the opportunity to design many new creations. In parallel, I continued to paint pictures in various techniques. Until, by a happy coincidence, leaves and flowers came to my mind for my theme: “Save the Earth”. I have been an environmentalist and animal rights activist since I was thirty, so I can combine the two themes of painting and animal and environmental protection very well.

LC – What are your goals and plans as an artist in 2024?
KL – I would like to continue to work for the environment with my painting. I have, and this is fortunate for me, been given the opportunity to show my paintings in exhibitions and galleries around the world. As oil paintings or digitally. I am very happy about that. On this occasion, many, many thanks to all who support me so wonderfully. Another gift is that I am always asked in interviews what I want to convey with my pictures and so I have the opportunity to convey my heart theme “Save the Earth”.

LC – What role does the artist play today?
KL – There is an incredible potential in art. Art can attract a lot of attention and convey positive things. Art can motivate and contribute to responsible behavior. The love of art also opens our eyes for this beautiful planet Earth. We only have a planet that is our home. Therefore, we should be very careful with this precious treasure because we are only guests and should behave like this. So “love and protect him”. If not we? Who else? Because you also protect what you love. We are responsible for big and small decisions every day. This also includes environmental protection. Art is the wonderful intermediary who can also open doors to our hearts

LC – How did you get to your current artistic practice?
KL – I worked as a fashion and jewelry designer for many years and learned to paint in great detail. In my spare time, I also enjoyed painting pictures of nature to find a balance for myself. When I realized that fashion and jewelry design cause a lot of damage to nature, I could no longer reconcile this with my conscience as an animal and environmental conservationist. Just two examples of many briefly explained: “In traditional silk production, the silkworms are killed in their cocoons in order to preserve the long, uninterrupted silk threads.” In other words: the silkworm must not become a butterfly!
Or another example from the jewelry industry is the “environmentally harmful mining of gold and gemstones”. Although I really enjoyed my work as a designer because I was always coming up with new ideas, I “let go!” When you voluntarily close one door, another one opens! Today I paint large-format oil paintings with a lot of love and energy.

LC – Which artists have somehow influenced your work?
KL – Georgia O Keeffe, Claude Monet und Henri Rousseau

LC – Where do you find your inspiration?
KL – The variety of colors, shapes of flowers, trees and leaves has fascinated me since my childhood. The power of the sun and its play with light and shadow in nature are characterized by: “grace, love, joy of life, confidence, peace and serenity”. You can capture the beauty of nature with images. Because what you love, you also protect. That’s why my motto for my pictures is: “Save the Earth”. I have been an environmental and animal rights activist since I was thirty and have therefore become a vegetarian. The two themes are reflected in my pictures. I would like to continue to support the environment through my painting.

LC – Do you use art to express something specific? Is it your means of expression?
KL – Yes, my motto for many years has been the protection of the earth and the animal world, because we have no other planet. We were born on this beautiful planet Earth and yet we are only guests and that is how we should behave. Unfortunately, many people have not yet realized this and are constantly sawing at the branch we are all sitting on.

LC – What are your suggestions about our services? Is there something more we can provide to artists?
KL – I am very happy and satisfied that your service exists. One suggestion would be if you could also provide links to press releases for artists.

LC – What do you think about ITSLIQUID Platform?
KL – Once again, I am more than happy that I got to know your platform and that I can work with you. Nothing can be taken for granted in life and through ITSLIQUID Group I can reach many people worldwide with my cause: “Save the Earth”. As a TV presenter in Germany, I have presented many programs about animals and environmental protection, but through ITS I can now reach art lovers worldwide. Thank you!