Paul Riedel – German-Brazilian artist committed to the environment and German culture

If you channel surf these days in the evening, two major topics repeatedly come into focus in the political debate in the wake of increased immigration and the recent emissions scandals: integration and the environment.

Both areas are central components for the success of our society and fundamental for peaceful and healthy coexistence. The Brazilian artist and painter Paul Riedel recognized this early in his life and, in addition to his artistic work, selflessly dedicates himself to social, cultural, and environmental projects.

In his adopted home of Munich, he is probably best known to the public as a Protestant and a fighter against the felling of older trees in the city.

So let's take a closer look at this multifaceted representative of the Munich art scene.

Paul Riedel – Childhood and Youth

Paulo Sergio Riedel was born on May 27, 1960, in the Brazilian metropolis of Sao Paulo. Born out of wedlock, he initially grew up with an Afro-Brazilian family, but was later integrated into his German-Italian family.

As if that weren't challenging enough, he became aware of his sexual identity and his orientation towards his own sex at the age of ten and had to confront the Catholic Church's dogmas on sexuality very early in his life while attending a Jesuit monastery school. His homosexuality also led to conflicts within his family, forcing him to separate from them at an early age.

Considering the circumstances that young Paul Riedel had to face very early in his life, it quickly becomes clear that he had to learn to take responsibility for his life at a rapid pace. This likely laid the foundation for his later life as a passionate activist and advocate for an open and tolerant society.

Education and professional career

Anyone who assumes that Paul Riedel received a classical art education is mistaken. At the age of fifteen, he began his first professional job at the Ministry of Telecommunications in São Paulo, where he remained until 1984. During this time, he received professional development and initially launched a career in information technology.

Through a project at Ferrostal, he landed at MTU in Munich and eventually moved to BMW after four years. Shortly afterwards, he founded his own IT company, which he managed as CEO until 2010.

His career in the IT industry took him to New York, Boston, Hong Kong and many other major cities worldwide.

Career as an artist

Alongside his professional career in IT, Paul Riedel worked as a freelance artist from 1978 onwards . Among his best-known works are portraits of Broadway stars such as Julie Wilson. He painted these portraits in his New York studio. The Big Spender Gala in 1998 was opened with a selection of three paintings from this series

And so, to this day, he works both as a freelance artist and as an author of various psychodramas, short stories, and non-fiction books. In 2010, he ended his career in IT and has since devoted himself fully to his art and a number of social causes.

As a visual artist, he primarily dedicates himself to watercolor painting and working with chalk. His most popular subjects include flowers, churches, portraits, men, and nudes, and intense colors are characteristic of his works.

Here are three works from the watercolor series “Colloured Hats”:

These works and numerous other works by Paul Riedel can be found in his art shop.

Key exhibitions (excerpt)

• 1978-1980 Mercado de Arte Sao Paulo – Brazil
• 1979-1981 Feira de Arte Mogi Guacu – Brazil
• 1980 Feira de Arte (Myth) Peruibe – Brazil
• 1996 Foreign Worlds Munich – Germany
• 1997 Symbol, symbiosis, everyday life, cult Munich – Germany
• 1998 Galerie Dr. Böhner Munich – Germany
• 1999 Foire d'Art Strasbourg – France
• 1999 Art Fair Zurich – Switzerland
• 1999 Acqua Munich – Germany
• 2000 Art Fair Rosenheim – Germany
• 2001 Acqua Munich – Germany at the Antaris Gallery
• 2002 CEBIT Hannover – Germany, exhibited at Ascential
• 2007 Champions II Munich – Germany – (Craftsmen and road workers posed as models for these works.)
• 2008 Mah-Jong Munich – Germany – The game of dragons, flowers and winds depicted in watercolors.
• 2009 Love in Pieces Munich – Germany – Book and drawings publication – 500 copies sold out
• 2011 Moments Munich – Germany (Drawings, watercolors and mixed media with everyday motifs, also available as greeting cards)
• 2013 Munich Review Munich – Germany

Published novels

• Beloved Father (1995)
• Altreia (1998)
• The Mystery of the Withered Roses (2009)
• Virtual Love (2016)
• Paloma (2016)
• The Muse (2016)
• Post Mortem Cinema (2016)
• The Healer (work in progress)

Life as an activist and social engagement

Perhaps influenced by his childhood and youth, Paul Riedel dedicated himself to various social projects and repeatedly took action as an activist and Protestant. Above all, from 1977 onwards, he campaigned for the recognition of homosexuals in his native Brazil and frequently participated in demonstrations.

Among other things, he participated in the first demonstration in 1978 against the future president of Brazil, Lula Inácio da Silva. He also stood up against the pseudo-communists and was among the first to resist the oppression of the people, including homosexuals, by homophobic politicians.

In Germany, he continued his activities in this area almost unabated and is today an active member of the Green Party in Munich. Besides his public opposition to the felling of mature trees in the Bavarian capital, he led the Pro-Isar protest campaign, which aimed to prevent littering on the banks of the Isar River in Munich. He also remains committed to environmental and animal protection.

His commitment to culture is evident in his volunteer work for Munich's museums and art galleries, where he offers free guided tours once a month, discussing numerous topics related to fine art and antiquity. He also offers free monthly lessons in watercolor, chalk, and drawing techniques in his studio.

Virtually his entire life has been characterized by a passionate and tireless commitment to an open, peaceful, and tolerant society in which culture plays a vital role. As someone with a migration background, the preservation and promotion of German culture is particularly close to his heart.

On May 27th, Paul Riedel will celebrate his 40th anniversary as an artist in Munich at the Siebenbrunn restaurant , and we at the Kunstplazaeditorial team wish him an unforgettable and wonderful evening among his friends, colleagues, and supporters!

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and Managing Director of Kunstplaza . Publicist, editor, and passionate blogger in the fields of art, design, and creativity since 2011. Graduated with a degree in web design from university (2008). Further developed creative techniques through courses in freehand drawing, expressive painting, and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market gained through years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with key players and institutions in the arts and culture sector.

www.kunstplaza.de