Monika Auch moved from her native Germany to Amsterdam where she studied and practiced medicine while studying textiles at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy. (BA_2000)

Since 2000 she works as a visual artist with a focus on weaving. She researches the Intelligence of the Hand in two projects STITCH_MY/YOUR_BRAIN and WeefLab.

Monika’s studio practice is informed by cooperation with colleagues, academic institutions and by interviews with artists on the material based making of art published on a regular basis.

She teaches workshops and masterclasses, drawing from a rich archive of material and a commitment about the importance of creativity and hands-on making.

2024

_Booklaunch, Amsterdam of Stitch Your Brain 

_D(R)AAD Embroidery as protest and healing, Verwey Museum, Haarlem

2023

_Guest lecture, weaving for M.A. course restoration and conservation textiles, University of Amsterdam

_A.I.R.  Icelandic Texile Center

_online lecture ETN conference Lodz

_Grant A.I.R. Iceland

_publicationand representation at Frankfurter Buch Messe of StitchYourBrain

2022

_Lectures 'StitchYourBrain' study results, NL and DK

_A.I.R. June and July, KH Messen, Norway 

_Brain show in collaboration with Kunstnerflojen group, Denmark

_ collaboration with JapSam publishers 

_article in DeFKa Research SC Magazine 

_coaching Texperanto group

_Grant Stichting Stokroos

_Grant Foundation VDVrouwen

2021

_State grant 'Creative Industries' 

_A.I.R. June/July/August at Kunstkollektivet 8B, Denmark

_online_www.surfacedesign.org/membergalleries/the-bones-of-building/

_Dutch Raam magazine_cover interview on natural dyes in printmaking

 2020

_panelist World Craft Council seminar ‘Craft and Health’ about StitchYourBrain

_group show RMO, National Museum for Antiquities, Leiden, NL

_WeefLab hosts BAUHAUS workshop for master students, Technical Art History, University of Amsterdam

2019

_participation_DHA(Dyes in History and Archeology) Conference, Uni of Amsterdam

_solo_Nordic colors_private view exhibition

_A.I.R. June and July, KH Messen, Norway

_guest editor: edition SOFT BORDERS for Surface Design Journal

_coaching QS2 group 

2018

_solo WeefLab and the Brainshow, Amsterdam, Grant Stokroos Foundation

_lecture ‘Brain-Hand’ at Industry Day, Leiden

_teaching Biezenmortel Masterclass

_lecture ‘Creativity and Brain’ at Outsider Art Gallery, Hermitage, Amsterdam

_private commission_Kortenhoef, NL  

2017

_launch of WeefLab_Amsterdam Noord

_lecture at KNAW (Royal Academy of the Sciences), Amsterdam, Kunst en Kennis

_group show_Nieuw Dakota, Amsterdam Noord

_lecture at ETN conference, Boras, Sweden

_piece ’Timewarp’ selected for 7th Applied Arts Triennial, Tallinn, Estonia 

_group show, Blickpunkte, HWK Münster, Germany

_group show, Meesterlijk, Amsterdam

_community weaving, Koningsdag, Amsterdam Noord

Selection until 1999

Solo

2015 My brain as a flower  print series in House of Representatives, The Hague

2015 W.O.L.F. installation at Textile Festival, Leiden in collaboration with D. Wedderburn

2014 Stitch your brain project

2014 Stitch my brain print series in House of Representatives, The Hague

2012    Textuur, prints and publication at Qua Art-Qua Science, Twente University, Enschede

2011     Art and Science – innovation and heritage, sculptures and prints at Museum Vrolik for Anatomy and Embryology, University of Amsterdam.

2008     Text-ile Haptik, artist’s book at Buchmesse, WEIW publishers, Leipzig

Groups (selection):

2017 Timewarp  at 7th Tallinn Applied Arts Triennial

2016 Wabi-Sabi collection at Blickpunkte, Münster 

2016 Imagomundi project, Milaan

2015 print Materiality, Amsterdam and Sydney

2015 W.O.L.F. installation with D. Wedderburn at Pulchri Grafiek Biennale, The Hague

2014 Stitch Your Brain community project, Muiden

2013 Impact 8, International printmakers conference, Dundee

2013 Bridges, Worldcongres Art&Science, Enschede

2013 Kunstenaarsboeken, Grafisch Atelier Den Bosch

2013 Suave, Museo Nacional de Artes, Madrid

2013 Galerie Zone, Leiden

2013 Boundless books at OBA, Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam

2012 Book Mania, Amsterdams Grafisch Atelier, Amsterdam

2012 Boundless, CBK Amsterdam

2011 Leven gered dankzij de/the Arts, Nieuwe Vide, Haarlem

2011     Investigations, On artistic research, Department of Philosophy and Art, Assen

2010     Meister der Moderne, Munich

2010     Global Intrigue, 4th int. Fibre Art Triennial, National Museum, Riga

2009     First Rijswijk Textile Biennial, Museum Rijswijk

2009     European Prize for Applied Arts, Mons, Belgium

2008     Threads, Ringling College of Art and Design, Selby Gallery, Tampa, Florida

2007     Beyond Material, Gallery Reservos dos Bernardas, Lisboa

2007     Present, Haus der Kunst, Munich

2007     Wide Examination, Kaunas Art Biennial 07, National Museum, Lithuania

2006     Sieradieen, Kunsthal, Rotterdam

2003     Maelstroom, DeFKA, Assen

2003     The biggest Visual Power show, Paradiso, Amsterdam

2001     Memories, Commenius Museum, Naarden

Grants

2022 Stichting Stokroos and Foundation VVDV for publication Stitchyourbrain_project

2021 State grant 'Creative Industries'  for publication about Stitchyourbrain_project

2015 and 2018 2x Stichting Stokroos for research and developing hybrid printing techniques

2007 State grant Fonds BKVB

2007 Mondriaan Foundation for representation at Kaunas Biennial, Latvia

2006 Materiaalfonds for artist’s book 

2003, 2004 and 2006 Scholingsfonds for attending masterclasses 

Professional experience

Lectures and teaching

2020 BAUHAUS workshop for master students, Technical Art History, University of Amsterdam

2018 lecture ‘Brain-Hand’ at Industry Day, Leiden

2017 talk at KNAW ‘Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences’ about our senses in art and knowledge 

2016 talk at ‘Worlding the brain symposium’, narratives in neurosciences and the humanities, UvA

2016 key-note lecture Gawthorpe Hall, GB, symposium textiles and wellbeing

2015 lecture ETN conference Leiden about research ‘brain and creativity’ 

2014 key-note speaker ‘Art of Neuroscience’ seminar, EYE Institute by KNAW and NIN 

2014 key-note speaker ‘Beyond the toolkit’ Understanding and evaluating crafts practice for Health and Wellbeing.’ Falmouth University

2013 teaching international workshop 3D printing for restorers, University of Amsterdam

2013 ‘STITCH_MY_BRAIN-anatomy and imagemaking’, illustrated talk at IMPACT 8, international printmakers symposium, Dundee

2013 ‘On the Art of selection’, opening speech 3rd Rijswijk Textiel Bienale, Rijswijk

2013 expert’s talk Quilt Symposium, Gouda

2012 ‘Anatomie 2.0 und Morphologie in der Kunst’, guest lecture Akademie Weissensee, Berlin

2012 ‘Collecting as a form of human enquiry in Arts and Sciences’, Applied Arts Triennial, Tallinn

2012 teacher at private school DIY school , Amsterdam

2011 guestteacher/tutor Sandberg Instituut

2011 ‘Intelligence of the hand’, symposium ‘Investigations, PhD in de kunst’, DeFKA, Assen

2011    ‘Art and Embryologie’, symposium Gynaecologie&Obstetrie, Amsterdam

2011 ‘Life saved thanks to the arts’, De Vide, Haarlem 

2011 ‘Boundless textiles’, European Textile Network conference, Kaunas

2011   ‘Intelligence of the hand’, Grafiek West, Amsterdam

2010 guest tutor Sandberg Instituut

2009 ‘Mapping conceptual crafts in The Netherlands’, symposium ‘Crafted’, BNO, Amsterdam

2008 ‘Position der Freien Gestalter in den Niederlanden’, key-note speaker, Handwerkskammer Aachen, international conference

2008 workshops for Nederlands Weefnetwerk, Dutch weavers guild

2007 ‘High-tech from the Lowlands’, Crafts Council of Ireland, lecture and workshop 

2007 ‘Digital craft’, ETN, international conference (European Textile Network), London

2007 ‘smart textiles, digital craft’, Gerrit Rietveld Academie 

2007 ‘Embryologic objects’, international Textile Biennial conference, Kaunas

Writing and editing

2010 - now: editor/ writer for Dutch journal kM, special journal for artist’s materials and techniques 

2019 guest editor: edition SOFT BORDERS for Surface Design Journal, concept, author

2016 commission book: ‘Talking ceramics’, concept, author and image editor, European Ceramic Work Centre

2015 Peer-reviewed article for ‘Crafting in a digital age - the intelligence of the hand’, Bloomsbury Academic 

2015 articles for Art Jewelry Forum

2014 publication I.Heerkens, A.I.R. sundaymorning@ekwc, ‘shifting mass’

2013 ‘The skin on the milk’, introduction to catalogue 3e Rijswijk textiel Bienale

2009 concept and editor BNO publication: Mapping Dutch conceptual crafts

2004 free lance free lance writer for catalogues, magazines 

2006 publication artist’s book ‘..hinter, achter, behind‘ bij uitgeverij weiw

Board functions, jury, advisory functions

2014 jury Textiel Biennial Rijswijk

2013 jury Suave, Madrid

2012 jury Applied Arts Biënnale Tallinn

2012 jury 4th Textiel Biënnale Rijswijk

2011 board member AGA (Amsterdams Grafisch Atelier)

2011 jury ‘Staatspreis Nord Rhein Westphalen’

2010 representation BNO for WCC- Europe (World Craft Council)

2010 state examiner for masters graduation Applied Arts, Sandberg

2009 board member BNO until 2011

2007advisor CAD/CAM workshop sundaymorning@ekwc

2007 Council of advice BNO

2006 jury Dutch Design

2004 chairperson VES/Vrije vormgevers

1999 board member, acting chair VES/Vrije Vormgevers