Artwork by Laura Mahnke - subterranean, 2025
Upcoming

February 12 – 15
Annual Exhibition
HFBK Hamburg

May 25 – June 7
Duo with Paula Hoffmann & other accomplices
Westwerk, Hamburg
Note: The website is under construction. To find more images of the artworks, please visit my instagram for now.
I am a digger. I dig my hands into matter, searching for the hidden and obscured. I transfer literary concepts like the surrealist Écriture Automatique and Stream of Consciousness into sculpture. At the core of my work lies a radically leftist yet romantic worldview that permeates my artistic travels. My practice focuses on actual or metaphorical flesh, blurred memories, (inner) landscapes, and the present time. Emotions like rage, yearning, bitterness, melancholy, and shame move me deeply. I explore these themes through Haptic Research—by touching and shaping clay, charcoal, graphite, ink, and metal oxides, to create sculptures and installations. My Pourings are live interventions with liquid porcelain that remain as floor sculptures in the exhibition space. I pursue desire-driven, visceral paths of production that translate my inner images directly into tangible form through my hands.
The Constitution, 2025
6 uniques from stoneware, 31,5 – 32,5 x 21,5 – 22,5 x 7,5 cm
Photographs: Charlotte Spiegelfeld
Red – fire, flesh, lust, hot, life, blood & rust
Black – universe, grief, eternal, cold
Brown – moist, earth, embracing, warm
Silver – tear, river, lightning, stars
Blue – deep sea, night sky, yearning
Artwork by Laura Mahnke: The Constitution - BLACK
Artwork by Laura Mahnke: The Constitution - RED
Artwork by Laura Mahnke: The Constitution - BROWN
Artwork by Laura Mahnke: The Constitution - SILVER, 2025
Artwork by Laura Mahnke: The Constitution - BLUE I, 2025
Artwork by Laura Mahnke: The Constitution - BLUE II
Amorphous Series, 2025
Uniques from stoneware, size of two hands
Photographs: Charlotte Spiegelfeld
Here, I explore my artistic ancestry and belonging through Haptic Research.
I consider other artists, musicians, and writers a greatly cherished source of inspiration and wisdom. These are, among others: Patti Smith, Tia Blake, Bridget St John, Joan Baez, Nick Drake, Annie Ernaux, Sylvia Plath, Edouard Louis, Maggie Nelson, Lynda Benglis, Valie Export, Nan Goldin, Sarah Lucas (tbc.).
Artwork by Laura Mahnke - Heart Punch, 2025
Artwork by Laura Mahnke - Suede tribute to Johnny Panic, 2025
Artwork by Laura Mahnke - the dark side of the desk, 2025
Artwork by Laura Mahnke - starry night cold liver, 2025
Artwork by Laura Mahnke - country boy, 2025
Artwork by Laura Mahnke - convex puddle, 2025
Artwork by Laura Mahnke - kiss me (blue lips red lacquer), 2025
subterranean, 2025
2 pieces
Stoneware, metal oxides, glaze, graphite
Size of two hands
Photographs: Charlotte Spiegelfeld
Artwork by Laura Mahnke - subterranean, 2025
Artwork by Laura Mahnke - subterranean, 2025
Hopeless Romantic Night Lovers, 2025
2 pieces
Stoneware, metal oxides, glaze, graphite
Size of two hands
Photographs: Charlotte Spiegelfeld
Artwork by Laura Mahnke: Hopeless Romantic Night Lovers, 2025
Artwork by Laura Mahnke: Hopeless Romantic Night Lovers, 2025
Prendre la parole, 2022 – 2024
Installation
Site-specific dimensions and amount of objects
Here: 80 objects, 3,5 x 8 , 3 meters

The work is accompanied by multiple public debating sessions with pottery, écriture automatique, and readings
All the content and images created by the author and presented on this website are subject to German copyright laws. All photos taken by the artist. Third-party contributions are indicated as such. No part of this website may be duplicated, edited, distributed or exploited in any other way without prior written approval being obtained from the author.
© Laura Mahnke, 2025