About Donata Wenders

Donata Wenders was born in Berlin in 1965. She studied film and theatre in Berlin and Stuttgart and began her artistic career as a cinematographer for feature films and documentaries.

Since 1995 she has been working as a freelance photographer. Her images are characterised by a classical, mostly black and white visual language. With photography’s digital transformation, Donata Wenders has been developing audiovisual short film installations since 2015. This fusion of photography and moving image lead her back to her roots and also marked an evolution in genre.

In 2006, her first book „Donata – Islands of Silence“ was published. This was followed in 2016 by the artist book with painter Robert Bosisio „Vanishing Point – Donata Wenders and Robert Bosisio“.

She has published several other books with her husband Wim Wenders, including „Leiko Ikemura in conversation with Donata and Wim Wenders“ (2018), „PINA – The Film and the Dancers„ (2012), „Don’t Come Knocking“ (2005), „The Buena Vista Social Club“ (2000), „The Heart is a Sleeping Beauty“ (2000), and „Beyond the Clouds/My Time with Antonioni“ (1995).

Her photos have been published in international magazines such as Egoiste, BLAU Magazine, The New York Times, Vogue, W, Deutsch, Rolling Stone, Kult, Esquire Pen and Let’s Panic, in addition to CD and book covers for Bono, Jon Hassell, Sam Phillips, BAP, ZweiRaumWohnung and Die Toten Hosen and Peter Handke. She has also been a set photographer for her husband Wim Wenders‘ films since 1995.

Selected Solo Exhibitions:

2026„Donata Wenders“, Galerie G99, Vienna
2024„Komorebi Dreams“, Photographs and Installations, Johanna Breede PHOTOKUNST, Berlin
2023„Komorebi Dreams“, Installations, 104Galerie, Tokyo
„Ode an das Handwerk“, Installationen, Japanisches Palais, Dresden
2022„THROUGH THE CRACKS OF TIME“, Galerie Albert Baumgarten
2021„“, Art Exhibition, Monschau
2020„rbb short film“, Everything Has It's Time, RBB Online
2019„Photographs“, by Donata Wenders, Neue Galerie Gladbeck
„Studie“, Polka Galerie, Paris
2018„Gestures of Light“, Atelier Jungwirth, Graz
„Leggendo Il Tempo“, C2 Contemporanea 2, Florence
„Gelesene Zeit“, Photographische Studien , Johanna Breede Photokunst
2017„Im Licht der Zeit“, FO.KU.S Innsbruck
2014„Silent Traces“, Johanna Breede Photokunst, Berlin, DE
2013„In the Snow“, Werkhallen, Oberwinter-Remagen, DE
2012„Donata Wenders“, Gallery Zandari, Seoul, KR
„Unsichtbar. Stimmen und Spuren“, Schlossmediale, Werdenberg, CH
„Donata Wenders – Photographie“,
2011„Contemplation“, Galerie f5,6, Munich, DE
„“, Polka Galerie, Paris, FR
2010„Absent Presence“, Muzeul de Art? Cluj-Napoca, RU
2009„Kleine Ewigkeiten“, Stadthaus Ulm, Ulm, DE
2008„Kleine Ewigkeiten“, Leica Galerie, Salzburg, AU
„Kleine Ewigkeiten“, Leica Galerie, Solms, DE
2007„Kleine Ewigkeiten“, Photography Monika Mohr Galerie, Hamburg, DE
2006„Islands of Silence“,
2005„Donata Wenders“, La Corte, Bari, IT
2004„Islands of Silence“, Galerie f5,6, Munich, DE
„Donata Wenders“,
2003„Islands of Silence“, Photography Monika Mohr Galerie, Hamburg, DE
2002„Donata Wenders“, Galleria Allessandra Bonomo, Rome, IT
2000„Donata Wenders“, Huis Marseille, Amsterdam, NL
„Pina“, Donata Wenders, Teatro Della Visione, Milan, IT
„Podcast“, BEGEGNUNG - Ode an das Handwerk

Selected Group Exhibitions:

2024„Robert Bosisio, Asa Hiramatsu, Donata Wenders“, Group Show, 104Galerie, Tokyo
„WONDER Mt. FUJI“, TOKYO PHOTOGRAPHIC ART MUSEUM
2023„WOMEN ONLY“, Johanna Breede PHOTOKUNST
2022„HERBST“, Johanna Breede PHOTOKUNST
„Teodora Axente, Robert Bosisio, Donata Wenders“, Group Exhibition, 104 Galerie, Tokyo
„SOMMER“, Johanna Breede PHOTOKUNST
„Collection 20:2 – Klassiker & Ikonen der Fotokunst“, Monschau
„SCHLOSSMEDIALE“, Werdenberg
„MEET YOUR ARTIST“,
„“, Johanna Breede PHOTOKUNST
2021„WINTER“, Johanna Breede PHOTOKUNST
„“, Starnberg
2020„KINO DER KUNST 2020“, KINOS DER HFF
„INSPIRATION HANDWERK“, Film Festival and Art Exhibition, Dresden
„NON MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART DRESDEN“, Group exhibition, Dresden
„Brandenburg Art Award“, Group exhibition, Schloss Neuhardenberg Exhibition Hall
„Vertiges des Jours“, Group exhibition , Polka Galerie, Paris
„HINTER DEN KULISSEN“, Johanna Breede Photokunst, Berlin
2019„HIGH FIVE!“, 5 Years Galleria Doris Ghetta, Galleria Doris Ghetta
„Der Funke Gottes!“,
„Think Big“, Photography Monika Mohr Galerie, Hamburg
„Magic of Silence“, Johanna Breede Fotokunst, Berlin
2018„10th Anniversary Suite 59 Gallery / #59 Magazine Exhibition“, Amsterdam, NL
„On Disappearance and Appearance“, The Ephemeral in Photography, Alfred Ehrhard Stiftung, Berlin
„Leiko Ikemura in conversation with Donata and Wim Wenders“, Max Liebermann Haus, Berlin
2017„Zwischen Himmel und Erde“, Galleria Doris Ghetta at Galerie Tanit, Munich
„“, conducted by Daniel Barenboim, directed by Wim Wenders, Berlin
„Thank you for Smoking“, Monika Mohr Galerie, Hamburg
„Favorite Images / Lieblingsbilder“, Johanna Breede Photokunst
2016„“, ,
„Art Comes First“, A Modern Masters of Photography Group Exhibition, Monika Mohr, Hamburg, DE
„Vis-à-Vis“, Johanna Breede Photokunst, Berlin, DE
„Nordic Light International Festival for Photography“, Nordic Light House of Photography, Kristiansund, NO
2015„The space between the characters can carry the load“, Collection Ivo Wessel, Museum Weserburg, Bremen, DE
„Places of the Mind“, Wim & Donata Wenders, Polka Galerie, Paris
„Vanishing Point“, Donata Wenders - Robert Bosisio, Galleria Doris Ghetta, Ortisei, IT
„Leiko Ikemura – All about Girls and Tigers“, with two Portraits of the artist by Donata Wenders,
„Through Women’s Eyes.“, From Diane Arbus to Letizia Battaglia, Casa dei Tre Oci, Venice, IT
„The Window“, Johanna Breede Photokunst, ​Berlin, DE
2013„Sieh! Mal! An!“, With photographs by Peter Beard, Daniele Buetti, Arnulf Rainer, Many Ray, Straulino and Donata Wenders, Photography Monika Mohr Galerie, Hamburg, DE
„BER – Bilder einer Stadt“, Pavlov's Dog Space for Photography, Berlin, DE
2012„Format Pola“, Philippe Guionie, Sara Imloul, Donata Wenders, Polka Galerie, Paris, FR
2011„!We love black and white!“, With photographs by Ellen Auerbach, Robert Cappa, Anton Corbijn, Dennis Hopper, Many Ray and Donata Wendersn
„“, , Polka Galerie, Paris, FR
2009„“, Bautzner 69, Dresden, DE
2006„Journey to Onomichi“, with Wim Wenders, Omotesando Hills, Tokyo, JP
2005„Gruppenausstellung“, with works by Tomio Seike, Malcolm Pasley, Don McCullin, Olaf Martens, Harry Callahan, Robert Doisneau and Donata Wenders, Galerie f5,6, Munich, DE
„Born in the Sixties“, Positions in Contemporary Photography, C/O Berlin, DE
2004„Off-scene“, Wim and Donata Wenders, Galleria Ferragamo, Florence, IT
2001„Buena Vista Social Club“, Travelling exhibition organized by the Goethe-Institute, starting in 1991, through Europe, Asia and America
2000„Wim und Donata Wenders „Filmstills und Backstage Photography““, travelling exhibition in collaboration with the Solares Fondazione delle Arti, Parma, IT
1997„Palazzo Ducale“, Parma, IT
Solo Exhibition

Donata Wenders

11 September - 30 October 2026
Galerie G99, Vienna

Join us for the opening on September 11 at 7 p.m.

Galerie G99, Gentzgasse 99, 1180 Vienna, Austria

Solo Exhibition

Komorebi Dreams

Photographs and Installations
16 March - 30 May 2024
Johanna Breede PHOTOKUNST, Berlin

For more information please visit:

Johanna Breede PHOTOKUNST

Solo Exhibition

Ode an das Handwerk

Installationen
24 November 2023 - 07 April 2024
Japanisches Palais, Dresden

For more information please visit:

Ode an das Handwerk

Solo Exhibition

THROUGH THE CRACKS OF TIME

11 March - 23 April 2022
Galerie Albert Baumgarten

Thank you to everyone who joined my opening #throughthecracksoftime at Galerie Albert Baumgarten. It was a great evening filled with interesting guests and inspiring conversations. On view in Freiburg until 23 April. Enjoy!

For more information visit Galerie Albert Baumgarten

 

Solo Exhibition

Art Exhibition
29 August - 19 December 2021
Monschau

For more information please visit: KuK Monschau

Solo Exhibition

rbb short film

Everything Has It's Time
22 April 2020
RBB Online

The project „4 Walls Berlin: 30 films with Distance“: 30 filmmakers from the capital region are joining forces on the initiative of Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (rbb) to form the „4 Walls Berlin“ campaign: Starting April 1, 30 very personal short films will be shown daily on the social channels of radioeins, rbbKultur, as well as in the „Abendschau“ and at  rbb-online.de. Volker Heise, Wim Wenders, Annekatrin Hendel, Mo Asumang, Hans-Christian Schmid and 25 other filmmakers each show their lives with the Corona crisis in 120 seconds. At the end, all films are combined into a complete edition.

The project was realised by the production company BASIS BERLIN.

For more information please visit:

rbb Online

 

Solo Exhibition

Photographs

by Donata Wenders
30 August - 11 November 2019
Neue Galerie Gladbeck

The extensive solo exhibition Photographs by Donata Wenders includes over 50 works created between 1998 and 2019. The exhibition introduces the viewer to the photographic universe of the artist, who above all brings inner stories of moving gestures into the visible world.

 

Solo Exhibition

Studie

Polka Galerie
23 March - 18 May 2019
Paris

Studie is on view at Polka Gallery until May 18th, in which Donata Wenders continues her exploration of classical tools and techniques of photography: how does one sketch a gesture, an attitude, a mood with very little light? For Donata Wenders, the meaning of an analogue print is not just the photographic process itself or, in the case of photogravures, the ink on the paper, but rather the artisanal „fingerprints“ that demonstrate the craftsmanship which concerns her.

For more information please visit:

Polka Galerie

 

photos: © Polka Galerie
Solo Exhibition

Gestures of Light

21 November 2018 - 30 March 2019
Atelier Jungwirth, Graz

For more information please visit Atelier Jungwirth’s website

Please find the press release here:

Press release

Solo Exhibition

Leggendo Il Tempo

04 May - 30 June 2018
C2 Contemporanea 2, Florence

Alongside classic portraiture, Donata Wenders‘ exhibition Leggendo Il Tempo shows experimental works, which seek to visualize that which is far beyond the outward appearance of the sitters. The show is created with the kind support of Galerie Doris Ghetta, Ortisei.
For more information please visit C2 Contemporanea 2’s website.

photo: Anna Duque y González

Solo Exhibition

Podcast

BEGEGNUNG - Ode an das Handwerk

Wir sprechen über die Kraft des Handwerks, Begegnungen mit dem Leben und wie wir ein Geschenk für andere sein können. Was ist Schönheit und wie lässt sie sich festhalten? Wie müssen sich Begegnungen anfühlen, die wir mit unseren Events erreichen möchten und was braucht ein Raum, in dem wir wirklich anwesend sein wollen?

Group Exhibition

Robert Bosisio, Asa Hiramatsu, Donata Wenders

Group Show
14 June - 12 July 2024
104Galerie, Tokyo

For more information please visit:

104Galerie, Tokyo

 

Group Exhibition

WONDER Mt. FUJI

01 June - 21 July 2024
TOKYO PHOTOGRAPHIC ART MUSEUM

For more information please visit: TOKYO PHOTOGRAPHIC ART MUSEUM

Group Exhibition

WOMEN ONLY

24 June - 14 October 2023
Johanna Breede PHOTOKUNST

For more information please visit:

Johanna Breede PHOTOKUNST

Group Exhibition

HERBST

23 September - 18 November 2022
Johanna Breede PHOTOKUNST

For more information please visit:

Johanna Breede PHOTOKUNST

Group Exhibition

Teodora Axente, Robert Bosisio, Donata Wenders

Group Exhibition
05 August - 10 September 2022
104 Galerie, Tokyo

104GALERIE is holding a group show in the period between Friday August 5th and Saturday September 10th 2022, featuring work by Teodora Axente, Robert Bosisio, and Donata Wenders.
This exhibition is the first opportunity for the work of Donata Wenders to be introduced at 104GALERIE. Along with her work, we will exhibit some new paintings by Robert Bosisio, an artist who has had a long-term friendship with Wenders, as well as some pieces by Romanian artist Teodora Axente.

Group Exhibition

SOMMER

17 June - 16 September 2022
Johanna Breede PHOTOKUNST

For more information please visit:

Johanna Breede PHOTOKUNST

Group Exhibition

Collection 20:2 – Klassiker & Ikonen der Fotokunst

12 June - 18 September 2022
Monschau

For more information please visit: KuK Monschau

Sneak-Preview

Group Exhibition

SCHLOSSMEDIALE

03 June - 12 June 2022
Werdenberg

Internationales Festival für Alte Musik, Neue Musik und audiovisuelle Kunst

For more information visit: Schlossmediale

 

Group Exhibition

MEET YOUR ARTIST

07 May - 12 June 2022
MEET YOUR ARTIST with photo works by Angelika Platen based on the book  Meine Frauen published by Hatje Cantz this year. For more information please visit: galerie-vonundvon.de/
Group Exhibition

21 March - 10 June 2022
Johanna Breede PHOTOKUNST

For more information please visit:

Johanna Breede PHOTOKUNST

Group Exhibition

WINTER

23 November 2021 - 11 March 2022
Johanna Breede PHOTOKUNST

For more information please visit:

Johanna Breede PHOTOKUNST

Group Exhibition

KINO DER KUNST 2020

27 October - 01 November 2020
KINOS DER HFF

For more information please visit:

KINO DER KUNST

 

Group Exhibition

INSPIRATION HANDWERK

Film Festival and Art Exhibition
05 September 2020 - 01 February 2021
Dresden

For more information please visit: Japanisches Palais

Group Exhibition

NON MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART DRESDEN

Group exhibition
25 July 2020
Dresden

For more information please visit: DEI FUNK WuK

Group Exhibition

Brandenburg Art Award

Group exhibition
04 July - 30 August 2020
Schloss Neuhardenberg Exhibition Hall

For more information please visit:

Schloss Neuhardenberg

Group Exhibition

Vertiges des Jours

Group exhibition
02 July - 05 September 2020
Polka Galerie, Paris

For more information please visit:

Polka Galerie

Group Exhibition

HINTER DEN KULISSEN

15 February - 07 March 2020
Johanna Breede Photokunst, Berlin

Enrica & Michelangelo Antonioni, Ferrara 1997 © Donata Wenders

For more information please visit:

Johanna Breede

 

Group Exhibition

HIGH FIVE!

5 Years Galleria Doris Ghetta
01 December 2019 - 28 February 2020
Galleria Doris Ghetta

For more information please visit:

Galleria Doris Ghetta 

Group Exhibition

Think Big

Photography Monika Mohr Galerie
26 February - 30 August 2019
Hamburg

Fore further information please visit:

Photography Monika Mohr Galerie

Group Exhibition

Magic of Silence

Johanna Breede Fotokunst
23 February - 29 May 2019
Berlin

For more information please visit:

Johanna Breede Photokunst

Group Exhibition

10th Anniversary Suite 59 Gallery / #59 Magazine Exhibition

06 October - 15 November 2018
Amsterdam, NL

For further information:

Suite59 Gallery

Group Exhibition

On Disappearance and Appearance

The Ephemeral in Photography
30 June - 09 September 2018
Alfred Ehrhard Stiftung, Berlin

The exhibition On Disappearance and Appearance. The Ephemeral in Photography concentrates on the fragile and transcendent. Showing photographic works by Donata Wenders, Ellen Auerbach, Alfred Ehrhardt, Isa Marcelli, László Moholy-Nagy, Rita Ostrowskaja and others.
For more information please visit the Alfred Ehrhardt Stiftung’s website.

Group Exhibition

Leiko Ikemura in conversation with Donata and Wim Wenders

12 April - 27 May 2018
Max Liebermann Haus, Berlin

The exhibition series „Im Atelier Liebermann“ shows some of the latest examples of Japanese-Swiss artist Leiko Ikemura’s work. Together with Donata and Wim Wenders, whose photographic and cinematographic works expand the exhibition, she reflects on the creative process, visual influences, and the medium of painting.
For more information please visit Stiftung Brandenburger Tor’s website

© Stiftung Brandenburger Tor, photo: Frank Sperling

Group Exhibition

Zwischen Himmel und Erde

26 July - 01 September 2017
Galleria Doris Ghetta at Galerie Tanit, Munich

Photos: Günter Richard Wett

For further information please take a look at Doris Ghetta’s website and Süddeutsche Zeitung

 

Group Exhibition

conducted by Daniel Barenboim, directed by Wim Wenders
24 June 2017
Berlin

Production photography by Donata Wenders.
Video projections by Donata Wenders and Michael Schackwitz.

For further information please refer to the Staatsoper’s Website
Also see The New York Times Homepage

Group Exhibition

17 November 2016 - 15 January 2017
Donata Wenders, James Franco

No love area, from the series „James Reading – Reading James“

Group Exhibition

Art Comes First

A Modern Masters of Photography Group Exhibition
07 June - 30 September 2016
Monika Mohr, Hamburg, DE
Installation View Monika Mohr Galerie

Installation View Monika Mohr Galerie

Donata Wenders
The Veil, Paris, 2002
Silver Gelatin Print
Ed. of 10 + 2 APs

Please also refer to the Gallery’s Website

Group Exhibition

Vis-à-Vis

07 May - 09 July 2016
Johanna Breede Photokunst, Berlin, DE
Installation View Johanna Breede Photokunst

Installation View Johanna Breede Photokunst

Donata Wenders
Talytha, Paris, 2002
Silver Gelatin Print
Ed. of 10 + 2 APs

Further information on the gallery’s website

Group Exhibition

The space between the characters can carry the load

Collection Ivo Wessel
05 December 2015 - 22 May 2016
Museum Weserburg, Bremen, DE

Museum Weserburg_2016_Foto- Bjoern Behrens

Donata Wenders
James Reading – Reading James, 2015
HD on Blu-ray + DV on DVD + HD (H.264) on USB flash drive, Aspect ratio: 16:9
framed
7:59 min
Ed. of 14 + 4 APs

Group Exhibition

Leiko Ikemura – All about Girls and Tigers

with two Portraits of the artist by Donata Wenders
25 September 2015 - 31 January 2016

Donata Wenders_Leiko Ikemura_Museum Ostasiatische Kunst Koeln

Foto: Simon Vogel

Group Exhibition

Through Women’s Eyes.

From Diane Arbus to Letizia Battaglia
11 September 2015 - 10 January 2016
Casa dei Tre Oci, Venice, IT

SAVE THE DATE. SGUARDO DI DONNA

Group Exhibition

Sieh! Mal! An!

With photographs by Peter Beard, Daniele Buetti, Arnulf Rainer, Many Ray, Straulino and Donata Wenders
04 June - 03 September 2013
Photography Monika Mohr Galerie, Hamburg, DE

Please also see the gallery’s website

Group Exhibition

!We love black and white!

With photographs by Ellen Auerbach, Robert Cappa, Anton Corbijn, Dennis Hopper, Many Ray and Donata Wendersn
07 June - 08 November 2011

Please also check the gallery’s website

Group Exhibition

Gruppenausstellung

with works by Tomio Seike, Malcolm Pasley, Don McCullin, Olaf Martens, Harry Callahan, Robert Doisneau and Donata Wenders
26 November 2005 - 28 January 2006
Galerie f5,6, Munich, DE

Please also refer to the gallery’s website