We are an artists' collective in the Darmstadt area.
We love sharing our art with others and talking about it.
The KiB artist collective: from left to right, second row: Martina Rausch, Eva Schlingmann, Paul Alexander Heigel, Petronella Adams, Rolf Maltry, Ingrid Vollrath. First row: Monika Schafus, Jürgen Frick
Newsletter Summer Edition - July 2026
- Third KiB Gallery shop window in Rheinstrasse
- KiB Exhibition Highlights in Summer 2026
- Presentation of three guest artists
Dear art lovers,
"Since the KiB artists' collective was relaunched with 8 artists on May 1, 2025, much has happened. With the rental of a third KiB gallery storefront from February 1, 2026, a small art mile has been created in the heart of Darmstadt."
The diversity of the works of our artist collective is impressively demonstrated in the changing exhibitions, which are on display for 3 months at a time.
Today we present to you 3 guest artists (Mandy Sue Schmittnägel, Sylvia Fischer and Andreas Pulwey) who will be exhibiting with us in the third quarter of 2026 - a further confirmation of our artistic openness.
The KiB artists' community is very pleased to be able to present their works as guests at the Volksbank Darmstadt Mainz in Groß Gerau from August 20th under the motto "Art with Heart".
On September 26th and 27th, we will be participating with our Kib Gallery shop windows in the open studio days organized by the South Hesse Cultural Summer.
We are especially pleased that Andreas Pulwey has written the following guest article for this newsletter.
"What would the world be without artists? Who can even imagine it? The world would seem less multifaceted, paler, and more uninspired."
The artists' collective "Künstler in Bewegung" (Artists in Motion) brings vibrant diversity to Darmstadt's city center. In addition to its eight members who present their work from various genres of painting, "KiB" will provide a platform for three new artists to showcase their work in the third quarter.
This is a first for "KiB," as it includes nature photographs alongside the paintings for the first time. A brief stop on the way to work brings a splash of color to everyday life.
The "KiB" artists' collective unites creative artists who are exploring new avenues in art and art presentation. With an online gallery, exhibitions around Darmstadt, and three gallery windows in the art district under the arcades of Rheinstraße, "KiB" creates diverse opportunities for encounters with contemporary art. Text by Andras Pulwey.
Warm greetings from
Monika Schafus, head of the artists' community
Hans-Ulrich Schafus, editorial team homepage/newsletter
LGet to know the artistic community better.
The KiB Connect Platform connects artists, art enthusiasts and exhibition venues.
Discover the works, dates, contacts and current projects
KiB exhibition highlights in August and September
KiB Gallery Showcase/Rheinstrasse Arcades
KiB Gallery Showcase/Rheinstrasse Arcades
Current window display occupancy July to end of September 2026
Petronella Adams (left) and Ingrid Vollrath(right) - both KiB members. Permanent exhibition with changing pictures.
Sylvia Fischer (left) from July to the end of September and Andreas Pulwey (right) - until the end of July - afterwards our KiB member Rolf Maltry will exhibit his works until the end of September
Mandy Sue Schmittnägel (left) together with KiB member Paul Alexander Heigel (right)
Guest artist Mandy Sue Schmittnägel and KiB member Paul Alexander Heigel
Guest artist July to end of September 2026
Mandy Sue Schmittnägel Juli -September 2026
Sylvia Fischer Juli -September 2026
Andreas Pilwey Juli 2026
KiB - Online Gallery
The Griesheim Cultural Association presents the works of Paul Alexander Heigel - member of the KiB artists' community - until May 2026.
Re-establishment of the KiB artists' community on May 1, 2025
On May 1, 2025, six original KiB artists and our new members Ingrid Vollrath and Paul Alexander Heigel decided to restart KiB together.
This is intended to preserve the idea behind KiB - namely the creation of a space for community, creativity and sustainable cultural work through the involvement of guest artists.
With the re-establishment on May 1, 2025, a new chapter in our history began.
This includes a modern look for our new KiB homepage, the redesigned online gallery, and our revamped newsletter. We have already received a lot of positive feedback from our art lovers.
The current members of the KiB - artists' community
I was born in 1941 and live in Griesheim. From 1996 to 2000, I attended art classes with Vesna Bakic, studying drawing and painting. Since 2001, I have been active in art classes with Beate Koslowski. I primarily paint small-format pictures, mostly in acrylic on canvas, with motifs I have discovered on my travels. My repertoire also includes drawings and watercolors. Since 1996, I have been a member of the Griesheim Cultural Association, with which I have participated in many regional exhibitions. Email: petronellaadams@gmx.de
I was born in Darmstadt in 1968 and live and work in Griesheim. I discovered drawing relatively late in life. I initially worked as a cook, and later spent a long time building prototype models. When I took early retirement for health reasons in 2015, I began drawing. Despite having red-green color blindness, I love working with vibrant colors. I almost always use a compass, which is why I call my work compass paintings or circle paintings. Email: vabifrick@gmail.com
I've always loved to paint. However, for a while, I lost my enjoyment of art. At school, painting felt more like a burden than a cherished companion. The rigid institutional framework, with its systematic approaches and regular assessments, disrupted my relationship with art. Academic success and conforming to the curriculum took center stage. A few years ago, I rediscovered art and embarked on a journey of exploration. With childlike joy and the freedom of a self-taught artist, I let my creativity and emotions run free in the digital world. I'm constantly searching for new things and enjoy blending familiar elements to bring forms and colors to the digital canvas in novel aesthetic harmony. My style is therefore not static but evolves through the changing use of diverse tools and painting techniques. Email: pheigel.art@gmail.com
Born in 1954, he lives in Groß-Gerau. For over 40 years, he worked as an employee at a large company in Darmstadt. He only discovered painting and drawing by chance in 2000. Some time later, he took lessons in the fundamentals of perspective and spatial representation. Since then, he has continued to develop his skills. When painting with acrylics, he enjoys mixing the colors wet-on-wet directly on the canvas. For drawings, he uses fineliners, which he employs to depict shadows through intensive hatching. Landscapes, seascapes, cityscapes, and floral motifs are among his preferred subjects. Email: ralm.maltry@web.de
I used to describe myself as a "needs-based" painter. That meant whenever I needed a picture, for example, for the hallway, the living room, or wherever, I would paint it and hang it up. Now that I'm retired and have more time, painting, along with working with soapstone, has become my great passion. As a member of the Bürstadt Artists' Association (KiB), I have participated in numerous regional group and solo exhibitions. My works are regularly exhibited at the KiB Gallery. Email: martina.rausch@hotmail.com
I started painting about 15 years ago. Through numerous courses and painting trips, especially to France and Italy, I was able to deepen my skills and gather many motifs and impressions. After gaining experience with several painting techniques, I have recently focused on oil paintings. My painting style is expressive and very colorful—I prefer to paint on large formats. My favorite subjects are landscapes, still lifes, and figures, often finding my way towards abstraction. Email: hus@t-online.de
Born in 1957 in Kelkheim/Taunus. I attended high school in Königstein, and painting has always been my great passion. Nevertheless, after graduating, I decided to study mathematics in Darmstadt, which I successfully completed in 1982. While searching for a suitable job, I attended the Free Art School in Darmstadt from 1983 to 1985, where I learned the fundamentals of drawing and painting under the guidance of Michael Schlösser and Beate Koslowski. Email: eva.schlingmann@outlook.de
The main theme of my painting is expressive, abstract, and atmospheric landscapes, focused on the essentials, in acrylic and mixed media. Nothing inspires me as much as nature itself. Inspired by the dynamic moods of the skies, the vastness, light, and atmosphere of the mostly Nordic landscapes, the paintings emerge intuitively using a wide variety of materials and media. My aim is not to create true-to-life representations, but rather an artistic and experimental exploration of the landscape. Email: nixweiss@aol.com
A look back at our art exhibition at the Griesheim Cultural Association from April 28th to May 15th, 2025
Impression from the Vernissageam 28.4.2025 : vlnr : Rolf Maltry, Paul Heigel, Petronella Adams, Jürgen Frick, Eva Schlingmann, Ilse Riese (Photo: Madita Heigel)