ABOUT
Flo Waitzbauer has a diverse professional background across several industries. He began his career in the music sector, working as a Label & PR Manager for prominent companies like Rough Trade, !K7, Zomba, Sony, and SonyBMG. Later, he moved into telecommunications, contributing significantly at Ericsson and Verisign, where he helped develop early concepts resembling modern music streaming services.
As a producer and remixer, Flo made a lasting impact on the music scene, both as a label operator and DJ. After founding Goldton Records, he expanded his focus to cultural and journalistic music fields, collaborating with institutions such as WestLicht and Austria's leading cultural radio station, Ö1.
Flo Waitzbauer then transitioned into digital innovation as Head of Digital for the Belvedere, Vienna’s foremost museum. His interest in the intersection of culture, technology, and communication led him to establish his consultancy agency, SUPERNATE.
Recently, he has shifted his focus away from consultancy to fully dedicate himself to his passion for painting, photography and music. Now based in Vienna, he is actively engaged in several major artistic projects, drawing on his extensive and varied experience.
BIO
Flo Waitzbauer, a multidisciplinary artist from Vienna, Austria, works in painting, photography, and music. His abstract acrylic paintings explore human emotion through color and form, creating immersive experiences that encourage emotional engagement. Strongly influenced by alternative pop culture, hip hop, and graffiti sprayer culture, his work centers on emotion and creation, playfully exploring fundamental questions of human existence and personal narratives.
TECHNIQUE & PROCESS
I use high-quality acrylic paints and canvases in my work, with a focus on vibrant, luminous colors or deep black tones that absorb light (similarly to "Vantablack."). My process begins with a conceptual design phase where I determine the color palette and composition of the elements. The artworks are then created in multiple stages, utilizing a combination of brush and pouring techniques on large-format canvases, with the distinctive use of bright color blends or intense black tones serving as key features.
STYLE
My artistic style centers around abstract painting, distinguished by the use of vivid, intensely bright colors. I work primarily with high-quality acrylics, which I mix uniquely for each piece, though certain color combinations recur throughout my work. While my compositions often begin with broad brushstrokes influenced by calligraphy or graffiti, a deliberate sense of chaos plays a key role. The elements of each piece flow together, designed to captivate and inspire the viewer.
SUBJECT MATTER & VISION
I create art out of necessity. For me, painting, like photography and music, are not merely creative outlets, but essential sources of personal fulfillment. My work is always intended to spark a dialogue with the audience, as I view art not as a monologue but as a dynamic interaction between the piece and the viewer. If my work evokes an emotional response, positive or negative, it is successful. The central theme in all my art is the emotion it seeks to elicit.
Whether my work addresses philosophical questions is not for me to decide; my art simply exists. In that sense, it aligns most closely with Zen philosophy. Painting is just one of many forms of expression I use, alongside music and photography, each of which allows me to communicate different ideas and messages.
The recurring motif of shadow and ambiguity is present in much of my work, even within the brightest and most colorful pieces. I embrace imperfection, believing that art should retain rough edges, as perfection feels sterile. While I consciously avoid certain influences, no artist creates in isolation. We all draw inspiration from the world around us, which drives the evolution of art.
Ultimately, I create for myself, not to please others. However, I find joy when my work resonates with viewers, provoking emotion and dialogue—though that is not the purpose behind my creations. Whether it all eventually forms a cohesive artistic vision is for posterity to determine.
DIFFERENT PERIODS & DEVELOPMENT
My artistic career spans nearly three decades across various disciplines. The longest phase has been in music, resulting in numerous releases, remixes, singles, and collaborations with international artists.
In the early 2000s, my focus shifted increasingly towards visual media, with photography and music video production becoming central to my practice. Since the 2020s, painting has become a major discipline and now represents my primary creative output.
Alongside my art, I have held roles in related industries, from working at record labels to positions at the WestLicht photo museum and managing the digital Belvedere for the Austrian Gallery Belvedere in Vienna.
A consistent thread throughout my career has been my engagement with new digital fields, often in pioneering roles. Over time, this has led to a key development in my practice: a shift away from endlessly reproducible digital media towards analog art, where human imperfection, the uniqueness of each piece, and its transience are central to the creative process.
IMPORTANT SERIES
The "Splat" series focuses on the interplay of colors and shapes, emphasizing the unpredictability and uniqueness of each piece. A key aspect of the series is its influence from hip hop and graffiti culture, which informs both the style and energy of the works.
INDIVIDUAL WORKS
Into the Rainbow Vein (2023, acrylic on canvas, 60x80 cm), focuses on color composition and the fluid blending of colors and shapes. The initial concept involves a strict separation of color planes, but during the process, an organic and unpredictable dynamic emerges. This serves as a metaphor for the unpredictability of life, where outcomes often deviate from our plans.
Kind of Blue (2023, acrylic on canvas, 100x80 cm) presents a different approach, drawing on the simplicity of calligraphy and graffiti. The painting uses only two colors in varying intensities, yet achieves a vibrant, dynamic effect. The title references one of my favorite jazz albums, where it is the unplayed notes that create the rhythm.
Too Much Love (2023, acrylic on canvas, 60x80 cm) depicts a family, portraying the closeness and complexity of their relationships. The painting suggests that while intimacy can unite, it also brings chaos, reflecting how overwhelming love and closeness can sometimes be.