Johannes Kahrs (b. 1965, Bremen) is a Berlin-based artist known for atmospheric, psychologically charged paintings that often rework found images from film, media and everyday life. Working with blurred contours, fragmented bodies and cinematic cropping, he creates haunting scenes that hover between recognition and estrangement, amplifying tension, violence and desire beneath the surface. His work frequently addresses themes of power, vulnerability and spectacle, inviting viewers to question their own role as observers. Kahrs has had numerous solo exhibitions at institutions such as Kunsthalle Nürnberg, Parasol Unit in London, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, FRAC Île-de-France and Zeno X Gallery in Antwerp. He has also participated in major group shows and biennials including Manifesta 5, the Lyon and Taipei biennials, Centre Pompidou in Paris and MoMA PS1 in New York, and his works are held in international collections.
