About 3Steps
3Steps (est. 1998) is the collective of the twins Kai H. and Uwe H. Krieger and Joachim Pitt (all born in 1980) from Giessen. The award-winning collective pick the term AMBIVALENCE out as its central theme, transforms the world into URBAN GLAMOUR, paints in NEO POP, runs a small creative agency and is the initiator and curator of the urban street art festival RIVER TALES. The three friends live and work in the university town Giessen, Hesse, Germany.
Vita
Master Steps
1998Founding of the artists’ collective 3Steps, getting started in Graffiti Art and Street Art
2005-10Work trips and art projects in cities in Europe and North America (LA and New York)
2006Curation and organization of the Urban Art Festival “Optical Confusion” in Wetzlar
2012Establishment of the new 300 square meter studio in Giessen, central Germany
Curation and organization of the cultural project River Tales [which was funded in the first episode by the Cultural Fund Gießen-Wetzlar, DE]
2014German Cultural and Creative Pilot Award by the Federal Republic of Germany 2014
2017One-Artist-Show at the art KARLSRUHE international art fair, presented by 2CforArt Gallery
Download full CV & Exhibitions (PDF)
View: Digital 3Steps Exposé | Februar 2018
Awards
2019Ab in die Mitte! | Landessieger 2019 | MaGiC Tales , 5th RIVER TALES street art festival, Hessian Ministry of Economics, Energy, Transport and Housing | Wiesbaden
2018Ab in die Mitte! | Landessieger 2018 | CITY TALES a RIVER TALES episode street art festival, Hessian Ministry of the Environment and Climate Protection | Wiesbaden
2017Ab in die Mitte! | Landessieger 2017 | RIVER TALES street art festival concept | Hessian Ministry of the Environment and Climate Protection | Wiesbaden, DE
2016Fellow | Ambassador for cultural and creative economy
Kompetenzzentrum Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaft des Bundes | Berlin, DE
2015Winner Start Up Weekend Space
STELLART art for space project | Bremen, DE
2014German Cultural and Creative Pilot Award
Federal Repuplic of Germany | [Initiative Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaft der Bundesregierung] | Berlin, DE
2012Young Talent Award BVM-VMÖ | Berlin, DE
Scholarships & Grants
2017Artist in Residence | Kunststation Kleinsassen
The Hessen State Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts and Landesvereinigung Kulturelle Bildung Hessen e. V.
The Sense of Things | Funding of Exhibition and Catalogue | Kunststation Kleinsassen
ART-regio of the Sparkassenversicherungen
2016Bookfunding of the State of Hesse, City of Wetzlar and City of Giessen, Germany
The Hessen State Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts | City of Wetzlar and City of Giessen
2015Cultural- and Artistfunding the State of Hesse, Germany | Werther Mural
The Hessen State Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts
2011-12Cultural fund Giessen-Wetzlar, DE | RIVER TALES
Departement of culture, Giessen, DE and Departement of culture, Wetzlar, DE
Collections
Museum of Kommunikation Frankfurt, DE
Hessen, Deutschland
Museum of City and Industry, Wetzlar, DE
Hessen, Deutschland
Several private Collections
Publications
Monographs
3Steps: Birds of Prey
2017, Exhibtion Catalogue, art Karlsruhe One-Artist-Show, 3Steps Giessen, ISBN: 978-3-945991-81-7
3Steps: Welcome to Milvus County
2016, Monograph, 3Steps Giessen, ISBN: 978-3-945991-91-6
Projekt159: Eine Region. Eine Bank. Eine Wand.
2016, 3Steps Giessen & Volksbank Mittelhessen, ISBN: 978-3-94599-159-6
3Steps: Ahead!
2015, Illustrated book and Exhibition Catalogue, 3Steps Giessen, ISBN: 978-3-945991-00-8
Anthologies
100 European Graffiti Artists
2014, Frank Malt, Schiffer Pub Co, ISBN: 978-0-7643-4658-3, S.12–15, artist portrait
Street Art
2013, Cristian Campos, Könemann, ISBN: 978-3-86407-250-5
Catalogues & Other
The Sense of Things
2017, Exhibition Catalogue, Kunststation Kleinsassen
Urban Art: Kunst an Mauern
2016, Grundschule Kunst, Nr. 63, 2. Quartal 2016, artwork & artist portrait
Kunst heißt für uns, unsere Visionen auszuleben
in: Hessisches Ärzteblatt, 2016, Heft 7/8, 77. Jahrgang, Die Zeitschrift der Landesärtzekammer Hessen, S. 428-429, artist portrait
Lauschiges Lahntal: Vom Rothaargebirge bis zum Rhein
2016, Andrea Reidt, Gmeiner-Verlag, ISBN: 978-3839218754, artwork
Press Articles | Media
Daily press
Gießener Anzeiger, Gießener Allgemeine Zeitung, Wetzlarer Neue Zeitung, Oberhessische Presse, Frankfurter Neue Presse, Bild Frankfurt, Darmstädter Echo, Offenbacher Presse, Züricher Tagblatt, LaNuova die Venezia, u.v.m.
TV reports
sky ARTS, RTL, Sat1, SWR, Viva TV, ARD, hr fernsehen
Exhibitions
Representing galleries
Galerie Haas & Gschwandtner | 2CforArt Salzburg, AT
Kunsthaus Artes Hannover, DE
Smart Collectors Wiesbaden, DE
Upcoming shows
tba
Soloshows
Selected
20183Steps | solo show
smart-colletors Wiesbaden | Discovery Art Fair Frankfurt, DE
A Piece of Home
150. Jubiläumszyklus, City Hall Gallery | Linden, DE
2017All Good Things – Come to an End
zur Lange Nacht der Museen, 2CforArt Gallery | Salzburg, AT
arts+ | One-Day-Pop-Up-Show
smartcollectors | Buchmesse Frankfurt, DE
The Sense of Things
Kunsthalle Kunststation Kleinsassen | Hofbieber-Kleinsassen, DE
Solo-Duoshow with Herbert Mehler and Sonja Edle von Hoeßle
Birds of Prey | art Karlsruhe
One-Artist-Show, presentiert von 2CforArt Galerie | Messe Karlsruhe, DE
2016Past and Present
Hotel & Restaurant heyligenstaedt | Giessen, DE
Fields of Memories
Kunstverein Wetzlar | Wetzlar, DE
Heard on the Street
2CforArt Gallery | Salzburg, AT
2015Welcome to Milvus County
Kunst in Licher Scheunen Festival | Lich, DE
2014Ahead! a studio show
3Steps Showroom | Giessen, DE
Groupshows
Selected
2018Winter Group Show
Galerie Haas & Gschwandtner (former 2CforArt) | Salzburg, AT
Kunstroute Aachen & Frisch von der Wand
artikel 5 & Gravieranstalt | Aachen, DE
2017RIVER TALES street art exhibition
hotel & restaurant heyligenstaedt | Giessen, DE
GIENNALE: SoloOrchester
Galerie 23 | GIENNALE | Giessen, DE
RIVER TALES Print Suite
Kunst in Licher Scheunen Festival | Lich, DE
Mit Kunst für die Kunst
Kunsthalle Darmstadt, DE
16. Jahre Galerie Schmalfuss
Galerie Michael W. Schmalfuss | Marburg, DE
Die Neuen
Galerie des BBK Frankfurt | Frankfurt, DE
Art&Antique Fair
2CforArt Gallery | Residenz Salzburg, AT
ART Vienna
2CforArt Gallery | Kunstmesse Leopold Museum | Vienna, AT
2016Art&Antique Fair
2CforArt Gallery | Hofburg Vienna, AT
Editions and Originals
Kunst in Licher Scheunen | Lich, DE
Star Wars Legions
Disney | London, UK
100 Künstler
BBK & Theater Aachen | Aachen, DE
Eröffnung
Kunst- und Kulturforum | Kunstverein Laubach, DE
3Steps Booth
COME 2016 | Coburg, DE
Star Wars Legions
Disney @DasStue | Berlin, DE
2015Druckfrisch #3
Galerie am Bahndamm | Giessen, DE
3Steps Booth
Stroke Ltd. Art Fair | Munich, DE
Expressions
Galerie Hegemann | Munich, DE
AprilApril
Gallery Artikel5 | Aachen, DE
2014Goethes Werther
Museum of City and Industry Wetzlar | Wetzlar, DE
Stadtbotanik
Galerie am Bahndamm | Giessen, DE
Luise Büchner – Leben, Werk, Wirkung
KiZ | Giessen, DE
2013East vs. West Coast
Galerie S. | Aachen, DE
Einer von uns. August Bebel und Wetzlar
Museum of City and Industry Wetzlar | Wetzlar, DE
Projects & Performances
Murals
Selected
2017Battle Royal
RIVER TALES street art festival | Nordanlage | Giessen, DE
The Sense of Things
Kunststation Kleinsassen | Hofbieber-Kleinsassen, DE
2016Birds of Prey
Hüttenweg | Giessen, DE
2015WertherMural
Municipal Museums Wetzlar | Lottehof Wetzlar, DE
2014Fluvius Mystique
Sachsenhäuser Bridge | Giessen, DE
2013Spyglass
Werner-von-Siemens-School | Wetzlar, DE
2012Racetrack
River Tales meets Hessentag | Konrad-Adenauer-Bridge, Wetzlar, DE
2011Yuri Gagarin
Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen | Giessen, DE
For a workoverview see WORKS
Art Performances
2016The Earth, The Nations, The People
Berlin Wall, station forecourt | Giessen, DE
2015REFLEXION
station forecourt | Giessen, DE
Art on Architecture and in Public Buildings
2015Projekt159
Volksbank Mittelhessen | Giessen, DE
2015Hedwig Burgheim Portrait
Hedwig Burgheim School | Rödgen, DE
2009Ames Raum
Optikparcours | Wetzlar, DE
Art Festivals & Travels
2017RIVER TALES
street art festival | episode III | Gießen
2014For your eyes only
Shoreditch | London, UK
RIVER TALES
Event of Urban Art | episode II | Giessen, DE
2013Flight travel
Milan, IT
2012Can!t graffiti festival
Antwerp, BE
Urban Device
Grosseto, IT
All in One
International Meeting of Styles | Wiesbaden, DE
RIVER TALES
Event of Urban Art | episode I | Giessen-Wetzlar, DE
Social Responsibility & Support
UNICEF DeutschlandUNICEF Youth Festival 2016 & 2018
Médecins Sans Frontières
DKMS Stem Cell Donation Germany – Ortsverband Gießen
DRK German Red Cross – Fukushima Hilfe
Bunter Kreis Aachen Artists support Children
Clients & Partner
Selected
Global
UNICEF Deutschland, Schattenwald (Der Film), Star Wars – Disney
Local
Volksbank Mittelhessen, Burton, Mercedes Benz, Licher, Pascoe, schunk group, Buderus, SWG, enwag, Landesärtzekammer Hessen
Social Media & Weblinks
facebook @3Steps.de
instagram @3StepsCrew
google+ @3StepsDe
twitter @3StepsCrew
3Steps @ Wikipedia
Network
BBK (Berufsverband Bildender Künstler | Federal Association of Visual Artists) via Regionalverband BBK Frankfurt of the BBK Hessen.
Some brief summaries
About the collective
3Steps is the collective of the twins Kai H. and Uwe H. Krieger and of Joachim Pitt. The three friends, all born in 1980, know each other since their early school years. They share many interests and collaborate together on their works and projects. The collective lives and works in the university town of Giessen, in central Germany.
In its current works the group pick the term AMBIVALENCE out as a central theme. The collective questions the ambiguity of objects, situations and persons. The works should evoke new associations, make people see everyday things in a different light, in order to question ourselves what we see and think. What is reality, what is fiction? What do we feel and think intrinsically?
In this connection the use of female power plays a controversial role. As in our contemporary media world – but also since the beginning of human history – these elements are characterized by activation and tensions.
‘AMBIVALENCE’ describes special attitudes that are in all of us. Attitudes that are driving around us and that cause inner tension. Desires, feelings and judgments that contradict each other – objects or things that both trigger an attraction and cause a rejection – or in simple words: Do I love it? No, I hate it! I love it! What’s the truth?
A central intention of 3Steps is to give a contemporary reflection of today’s world in neo pop art. The current environments of all of us are characterized by the changing world of reality, fiction, media, fantasy and dreams. According to this the collective transforms everyday objects, ordinariness and used things and urban spaces into aesthetic glamour.
Works and technique
The works of 3Steps had its origin in Mural Art and Graffiti Art. Together, the group began its career in 1998, by painting pictures with spray paint on walls.
Initially influenced by the classical New Yorker style writing, comic books, movies and the media revolution in the 80s and 90s with the first computer games 3Steps collective bases its works on gaudy colors, a clear picture language and simple patterns. Today‘s style of 3Steps includes influences of street art, style writing, photorealism, printmaking and pop art.
Main series of 3Steps are URBAN GLAMOUR and ITEMS. In these series, the collective broach the issue of the transformation of ordinariness, the common and urban spaces into aesthetic visual worlds: Urban and adventure meet aesthetic and glamour. Ambiguous exposures and the use of pop art colors as well as simple patterns give a new meaning to the objects, situations and persons.
3Steps discusses the imagery, which tells the viewer a special story. Artistically the collective uses characters, moments and scenes of everyday life as important elements. Seemingly exaggerated pictures – yet real – reflect life, which moves between an urban glamour culture and the country side.
The base of their works are the own portrait and fashion photographs as well as views and architecture photographs of urban cityscapes. Therefore 3Steps engages impressions, which they have held during their travels in the urban centers of Europe and America. In their paintings pop art and realism merge together, urban expression blend with color-intensive elements to create a new imagery language.
The portfolio of 3Steps contains works ranging from street art to large-format mural art, paintings on wood and canvas, photographs and prints to installations. Paintings are often created from a collage of magazines, photographs, stencils, spray paints, acrylic paints and hard varnish as well silkscreen on wood or canvas.
History
The twins Kai and Uwe know Joe since fivth grade in school. They spent their school time together and later they discovered their common passion of painting, crafting and the interrest of the young graffiti culture.
Initially influenced by the classical New York style writing and the urban graffiti culture of the 80s and 90s the three school friends founded the graffiti crew “Three Steps Ahead” in autumn 1998 – from which the current short form “3Steps” emerged later on. They quickly discovered their shared passion for visual arts and large format murals.
In the end of the 2000s, the three artists became internationally known within the graffiti scene through the combination of content-driven conversions of realistic figures and illustrative stories and the color and aesthetically coordinated graffiti styles of the twins. Characters and their stories played a central role, while classical graffiti elements and graphic patterns endure as design elements. Since then they leave arts in copious countries and cities of the world from Giessen, Wetzlar, Munich, Berlin over to London, Milan, Venice, L.A. and New York. Their conceptual joint productions transformed, influenced by their travels since 2007, more and more from classical graffiti art and street art to an urban pop art collage. Lots of their art were published in several international books and magazines.
Growing up in a small university town in the country, the collective reflects media and urban landscapes of cities their own way. Important for the collective are the regional countryside as well as the relationship between mankind and nature. These topics are in part represented by patterns and colors of wildlife in their work. Influenced by the media revolution in the 80s and 90s 3Steps takes focus on bright colors, vivid imagery and simple patterns. After their high school studies the three moved to a new large studio in the heart of the city of Giessen in the summer of 2012. Founding of the studio was a fresh start for the three friends in establishing and creating their artist identity. Since then ist das Team von 3Steps is organizer and curator of the international street art festival RIVER TALES.