Manuela Karin Knaut’s Unexpected Journey is a mesmerizing large-scale abstract painting that channels the spirit of travel through its raw, tactile surfaces and intricate marks. Echoing the emotive gestures of Cy Twombly, the work traces fleeting impressions of shifting landscapes and spontaneous discoveries—like the quiet details one observes on an unplanned road trip.

Hints of clouds, flowers, and faint horizons emerge across the canvas, invoking the rhythm of long journeys: a balance of monotony and unexpected beauty. Knaut’s approach, rooted in the traditions of abstract expressionism and minimalist abstraction, recalls the raw immediacy of 20th-century masters like Twombly and Agnes Martin, while maintaining her own voice—a deeply personal narrative of freedom and exploration.

Unexpected Journey transforms the canvas into an abstract travel journal, offering a poetic meditation on movement, imperfection, and the quiet joy of wandering.

Work will be sent rolled

Manuela Karin Knaut’s Salon is a striking large-scale abstract composition that fuses vibrant shades of pink, red, black, and white into a dynamic visual landscape. The piece pulses with energy, its dense composition and complex interplay of paint, spray paint, and printed patterns evoking both the frenetic pace of graffiti and the refined architecture of an upscale space. The use of rich pink tones as the dominant hue gives the painting a bold, almost fashion-forward aesthetic, while the black and white elements introduce contrast and depth. Knaut’s gestural abstraction and use of movement create a sense of rhythm, drawing the eye through the busy, layered surfaces. This abstract expressionist work feels like a living, breathing space—a contemporary salon, where aesthetics, design, and the chaos of urban life collide. The patterns within the painting weave together in an intricate dance, reflecting a world of ever-shifting textures and forms, offering an energetic and captivating exploration of modern abstraction.

Vitamine Sea” by Manuela Karin Knaut
In Vitamine Sea, Manuela Karin Knaut invites the viewer to experience the uplifting and revitalizing essence of the ocean through abstraction. The painting is a celebration of the vibrant, calming qualities that the sea bestows—its soothing waves, the invigorating effect of Vitamin C, and the tranquil energy of the Mediterranean coastline. The composition, scattered yet cohesive, blends cool tones of blue and white across raw canvas, evoking the depth of the water and the energy of the waves. The use of both acrylic and spray paint adds a dynamic texture, while a block of white wash creates a sense of breath, an open space in the midst of the chaotic beauty of nature.

The written words “Vitamine Sea” appear twice on the canvas, rendered in different typographies, acting as a visual rhythm akin to the sound of the ocean—an invitation to pause, reflect, and breathe. The juxtaposition of abstraction and text emphasizes the relationship between language and visual art, echoing the way words shape our perception of place and feeling. The color blue, a cornerstone of art history and famously immortalized by Yves Klein, dominates the canvas, infusing it with both calm and vibrancy. It invokes the expansive skies and the endless waters, bringing a sense of escapism and wanderlust, as if the viewer is invited to step into a coastal interior where time slows, and good vibes flow freely.

“Vitamine Sea” is not just a painting; it’s an invitation to escape the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary benefits of nature. It is a perfect embodiment of the modern lifestyle—where art, architecture, and the natural world come together in a harmonious blend of energy, relaxation, and renewal. Whether placed in a home or a gallery, this work offers a constant boost of calm, vibrant energy, and a reminder of the importance of the sea in our lives.

Three paintings as one by Manuela Karin Knaut.

‘Nordic Undertaking’ by Manuela Karin Knaut is an evocative abstract painting that captures the serene yet powerful essence of a Nordic winter landscape. Dominated by a tranquil white backdrop, the composition features dynamic strokes of ultramarine blue, particularly pronounced on the left-hand side where the blue recedes under layers of white, creating a sense of depth and movement. Thin, sprayed lines of red, pink, and black punctuate the piece, adding subtle touches of warmth and contrast. These minimalist marks, combined with a wash of red spray, create a visual rhythm that resonates with the chill of the snow and the energy of the northern lights.

This painting transports the viewer to a world of icy bliss—a utopian escape reminiscent of the quietude of winter, the exhilaration of skiing or snowboarding down a mountain, or the peaceful solitude of sitting by a fire in a cozy cabin while snow gently falls outside. The composition evokes the clean simplicity and refined elegance of Nordic architecture and interior design, as well as the stark beauty of a winter skyscape.

There’s a sense of calm energy here—a balance of abstraction and nature, where every stroke and spray offers a fleeting moment of tranquility, positivity, and escape. ‘Nordic Undertaking’ invites us to experience the allure of winter sports, the luxury of leisure, and the timeless beauty of a minimalist, snowy landscape, offering a taste of Swiss bliss amidst the haze of winter’s embrace.”

Manuela Karin Knaut, born 1970, is an independent artist currently living in Braunschweig, Germany. She acquired a Master of Arts in Fine Art at the University of the Witswatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. Apart from her centrally located studio and print workshop in Braunschweig she also keeps a studio in Johannesburg.

She has been a member of the Bund Bildender Künstler (German Association of Visual Artists) and the Association Internationale des Arts Plastiques, as well as The Visual Arts Network of South Africa (VANSA). Member of the International Womens Association, Photomuseum Braunschweig and GEDOK Niedersachsen.

Since 1990 various exhibitions nationally and internationally, amongst them in South Africa, Ghana, Switzerland, Danmark, UK, Austria, USA, Israel, Kirghistan. Her works are represented worldwide in public and private collections.

Black and white abstract painting.

"Like a Rainbow" by German feminist artist Manuela Karin Knaut is an evocative abstract triptych that boldly merges elements of architecture, design, and art. Spanning an impressive 125 x 375 cm, the large-scale composition pulses with energy and light, drawing the viewer into a world of vibrant pastels and radiating lines. Through her use of mixed media, Knaut creates a dynamic visual symphony that mirrors the fluidity and rhythm found in music and the written word.

The piece reflects an abstract skyscape, where curvilinear forms rise and intertwine in an interplay of light and color. Inspired by the principles of abstract expressionism, it evokes a sense of movement and transformation. The influence of art deco is subtly present, particularly in the elegance of the lines and the geometric structure that underpins the composition. "Like a Rainbow" serves as a celebration of feminine energy and creativity, its bright, pastel palette offering a contemporary exploration of both emotional and visual depth, while inviting contemplation of the connections between art, architecture, and the world around us.