Monika Mayer

Monika is a visual artist and educator who lives and works in Berkeley, CA. Born and raised in a rural area of Germany, she was exposed to a rich tradition of textile craft and making from a young age. The iterative design process became a second nature in her work and life. Throughout her career as an educator and museum professional, she has been supporting people at the intersection of creativity and hands-on learning. In the past five years, Monika has developed a serious commitment to her studio practice. In 2023, she joined Mercury 20, an artist-run gallery in Oakland.

Experimenting with materials, texture, pattern and color is part of establishing my own style and visual language. Working across a broad range of mediums, including inner tubes, soccer balls, canvas and paint, I create contemporary two- and three-dimensional work. I often incorporate traditional textile techniques such as knitting or embroidery in unusual ways to give my artwork additional color and bring it to life. My approach is experimental, my creative process intuitive and iterative, often layering techniques to create organic textures and dimensions. I draw inspiration from nature and personal experiences.