25 august 2026, Martine Bontjes
The studio of… Vera Klaus
Upcoming week, Root Gallery will present the work of Vera Klaus at Enter Art Fair in Copenhagen, taking place from 27 to 30 August. Her presentation brings together a selection of expressive, colourful paintings, created entirely without brushes. Rock music is her engine, and her hands are her tools. With Green Day, Bad Religion and Life of Agony playing in the background, Klaus applies paint directly from the tube onto the canvas with her fingers. Alongside large-scale paintings, she will also present smaller, intimate works in Copenhagen. In her latest paintings, Klaus explores a new combination of pink and blue undertones, the result of an intensive exploration of the possibilities of pastel chalk and water.
Where is your studio and how did you find this space?
I live in a small town, and my studio is located in the next-largest city. It's a small but bright and cozy studio where I can have the place all to myself. I posted a call for help in the WhatsApp group for our village, Boke, and it actually worked. A business owner in Delbrück — the town where my studio is now located — heard about the post and offered me his small, vacant office building. It really isn't very big, it consists of a bright room and a small bathroom but I feel really at home there.
Is your studio a private space, or do you invite other artists and people into your studio?
My studio is my sanctuary. I love being there alone, where I can focus entirely on myself and my painting. I really love that! But as a mom of three, I also love taking my kids there with me. It's like a little trip into "Mom's world" every time. We really enjoy it!
What do you mean when you say 'sanctuary'?
I started painting in my little daughter's room. She was still sleeping in our room at the time. I painted whenever I had a chance. The kids were always around, and of course, in the beginning, there wasn't much peace and quiet for me and my work. The decision to have a room of my own, just for me and my art, was one I thought long and hard about, but it was the best decision I could have made. Here, I work for hours on end without any outside interruptions; I can follow my thoughts, let myself go, and focus completely on the works I'm creating. It's a privilege for me to have a place like this.
Vera Klaus, Dreams and hope, 2026, Root GalleryWhat is the first thing you do when you arrive at your studio? Is there a particular ritual or routine that helps you transition into your working mode?
Definitely. I get home, turn on all the lights, put on some music, and make myself a cup of tea. Then I put on the clothes I always wear when I work, and that immediately puts me in the right frame of mind to get started. Most of the time, I give myself a few more minutes to get comfortable on my little sofa, take a look at the work and where I left off the day before, and after a short while, I'm in a good mood and get started.
What are the essential tools, or objects you always need around you while working? Can you tell us something about your favourite materials?
I love painting with my fingers. There are no brushes in my studio. I either paint directly from the tube or apply the paint with my fingers. I also hold my spray bottle in my hand throughout every step of the process. Along with pastel chalk, this was one of the most important materials I needed for my two new works. These two works will also be on display at the Art Fair.
You have a background in graphic design, when did you decide to make the shift to painting?
I was on parental leave, and our daughter had just been born when I felt the urge to get creative again. It was just intuition. I wanted to create something with my hands, express my feelings and my mood, and let my energy run free. That's how I got into painting, and it was — and still is — a wonderful feeling to lose myself in painting and let go.
You say music is your muse, what kind of music do you listen to? What music was on in your studio last week?
I love music. I can't go a single day without it. It gives me energy and reflects my mood. It can — and should — be loud. I love listening to anything that rocks! Last week, I listened to Green Day, Bad Religion, and Life of Agony. Most of the time, I have a playlist playing with lots of loud songs that I love!
Vera Klaus, Morgens Am See, 2026, Root Gallery
I read your work is a physical result of a moment you were completely connected with the present. Are there ways that help you to get into this state?
Music puts me in a state where I forget everything around me. It makes me feel strong and helps me let go completely. Then I'm fully in the here and now and enter an incredible flow.
I see a new pink and blue undertone in your new work for the Enter Art Fair, is this a new color shift in your work?
Yes, I think it's another step forward. Since I enjoy creating art with pastel chalk, this is another step toward discovering all the possibilities of chalk and water.
What more can we expect from presentation at Enter Art Fair?
Once again, there are several large-format works, but also small, miniature pieces. Every single one radiates strength, vitality, and joy! You can lose yourself in them and draw new positive energy from them.
Vera Klaus, Dreams and Hope I, 2026, Root GalleryWhat does joy mean to you? Is creating a joyful painting something that happens while you work on it, or is it something that emerges as an outcome?
To me, all of my works radiate something friendly, cheerful, and a certain sense of joy. I don't think I set out to create a work that radiates joy, it just happens. I believe that the deep joy and happiness I feel while painting allow these works to emerge without much conscious effort on my part.
What are your next steps? Are there any new materials, colors or techniques you would like to explore?
I'm going to keep experimenting with the new pink-and-blue color scheme and see what other possibilities working with pastel chalk opens up for me. I can't wait to find out!
