Born in Zürich, Switzerland, Katja Reichert grew up in a family of creative spirits. From an early age, she sought freedom beyond conventional paths, e xploring the world and breaking away from traditional expectations. Initially pursuing costume and set design at art school in Bern, she soon found herself on stage rather than behind the scenes, leading to a successful 25-year career in musical theater. Throughout her journey, her passion for drawing and painting remained constant—a quiet yet persistent yearning to tell her own stories. The upheaval of Covid, when art was suddenly labeled irrelevant, became a turning point, reigniting her artistic fire and compelling her to dedicate herself fully to painting. “Where there’s art, there is a moment of reflection. Art is an essential part of being human.” For Katja, life is not about wealth but about purpose, connection, and shared experiences.
Her work is a dynamic exploration of humanity, embracing the humor, complexity, and beauty of life. “Art is powerful. It can challenge and delight, inspire and encourage, and help us experience life deeply, free from pre-fabricated opinions,” she says. Through her layered, intuitive process, Katja creates pieces that invite viewers to step beyond boundaries and explore the interplay of chaos, harmony, and transformation. Defined by vibrant palettes, bold forms, and emotional resonance, her art is energetic, introspective, and delightfully playful.
Today, Katja works out of her studio in a 500-year-old house at the foot of the Semmering in Austria—a space rich with history and inspiration. Here, she experiments with surfaces that hold their own stories, crafting works that challenge traditional notions of wall art. Whether breaking away from the rectangle or exploring narrative abstraction, her art continually evolves. Inspired by nature, crafting, and the quiet company of her cats, Katja is expanding her exploration of unconventional materials and formats, redefining what painting can be.