Frequently asked
Questions
FAQ
Oliver Schäfer answers questions that he is frequently asked about his work.
Why do you paint these portraits of women?
I want to make these women visible. It has happened too often throughout history that the actions and achievements of women have been forgotten. With my pictures I can change that and make women, who have achieved important things, visible.
Why are you, as a man, committed to issues that affect women more?
Because gender equality concerns us all. The issue of “violence against women” is just one example of many and also concerns us men, because this violence comes from men. We will only be able to build a fairer world if men take part.
What do you want to achieve socially with these portraits?
I want to bring people together with my art. At many of my exhibitions I have already observed that my pictures serve as a kind of dialogue opener. Viewers start a conversation in front of my pictures. Of course, these conversations initially mostly concern the women portrayed, but they quickly turn into conversations about social issues. I think we need dialogues like these more than ever in these times.
Can your art be purchased?
Yes, my paintings are for sale. Some of the originals have already been sold. I also offer high-quality art prints and weatherproof reproductions of my works for those who cannot afford an original. This way, more people have access to my art and I can spread the stories of these women even better.
If you are interested in one of my works of art, please contact me by email or on social media. Or click here to go to my Etsy shop. There you can buy my art prints.
Why are there individual words or letters hidden in the portraits?
Before I start the actual painting process, I always write a quote from the person in question onto the canvas in their native language. Afterwards, this has the effect that you can only see individual words or letters shimmering through the layers of color. In this way I want to show the viewer that these women are more than just a body. These women have something to say, they have a message.
Why do you use these bright colors?
The colors are deliberately chosen to make the women visible. If I painted the women in soft pastel colors, one could easily walk past these portraits. I want to achieve the opposite. I want the women I portray to be clearly recognizable, no matter where they are exhibited. Nobody should walk past my pictures and say, “Oh, I didn’t see that.”
For example, I used predominantly blue tones for Marlene Dietrich because she became internationally famous with the film “The Blue Angel.” In contrast, for primate researcher Jane Goodall, it is the green tones of the jungle that dominate her portrait.
How did you come up with the idea of exhibiting your pictures outdoors?
Since the corona pandemic, I have regularly exhibited weatherproof reproductions of my works outdoors. This could be, for example, exhibitions in parks or public gardens. The idea came to me together with Diana Ringelsiep during the time when no large events could take place indoors in order to break chains of infection. Since I enjoy working in my own garden and being inspired by nature, I wanted to combine my two passions. This is how the idea of an outdoor exhibition came about, where there was no great risk of infection and where my painted portraits and Diana’s texts could be presented in colorful flowerbeds. Although the pandemic has been declared over, I am sticking to this exhibition concept and continuing to offer it. It is a good way of communicating art to reach people who would not otherwise visit museums or galleries.
Are you working on any other works for your “Fearless Women” portrait series?
Yes, I’m currently working on more portraits. My goal is to create a series of 50 to 100 portraits of women. I want to portray women from different countries and cultures. They should be women from the past and present who are actively committed to something or have achieved great things.