Paul Diestel (*1996, Lower Franconia) is a visual artist whose sculptures explore the forms of natural fragments. By dramatically enlarging and simplifying elements like maple seeds, pupal stages of hawk moths, and poppy capsules, he creates a sculptural cosmos. His works, shaped through intense processes of compression, exist outside conventional notions of time and space.
By altering scale, Diestel invites viewers to engage with the narratives embedded in natural forms. His sculptures thrive on the dynamic interplay between space, context, and perspective, allowing their meanings to shift continuously.
Paul Diestel studied fine arts at Kunsthochschule Kassel under Prof. Norbert Radermacher until 2019. He was a master student of Mirjam Thomann and a recipient of the Cusanuswerk scholarship. In 2021, he was awarded the Debütant*innenförderung by the Freistaat Bayern. He currently lives and works in Unsleben, Lower Franconia. His works have been exhibited at Museum am Dom in Würzburg, Villa Concordia in Bamberg, and the Museum für Sepulkralkultur in Kassel, among others.
Biography
1996
Born in Schweinfurt
raised in Unsleben (Lower Franconia).
Education
Since 2014
Taught by Klaus Metz, sculptor, Langenleiten
Studied Fine Arts at the Kunsthochschule Kassel
2015 - 2017
Studied Fine Arts under Prof. Norbert Radermacher
2018 - 2020
Studied Fine Arts under Prof. Mirjam Thomann
2019
Appointed master student under Prof. Mirjam Thomann and Prof. Jens Brand
Since 2018
Lives and works in Unsleben
Auszeichnungen
2017 - 2020
Scholarship from Cusanuswerk e.V.
2018
Catalog funding from the Bank für Kirche und Caritas, Paderborn
2019
Appointed master student under Mirjam Thomann and Jens Brand
Artist in Residence, Rathaus für Kultur, Lichtensteig, Switzerland
2020
Member of the examination committee for final project evaluations,
State Vocational School for Wood Sculpture, Bischofsheim
2021
Artist Sponsorship Award from Cusanuswerk
Debutant Sponsorship from the Free State of Bavaria
Catalog funding from LfA Förderbank Bayern
2024
1st Art Prize of the Sculpture Competition, Spitalstiftung Konstanz
Solo Exhibitions
2017
Gegenden I Begegnungen, Villa Concordia, Bamberg, with Gunther Geltinger
Permeabel, Stellwerk Kassel
2018
Empor, Bank für Kirche und Caritas, Paderborn
2019
Final Exhibition, Kunsthochschule Kassel
Findling, Kunsthaus Meiningen
Herbarium, Kloster Wechterswinkel
2021
transform, Galerie Löhrl, Mönchengladbach
zeitlos, Freilandmuseum Fladungen
zugewandt, Museum Am Dom, Würzburg
2022
Teil des Ganzen. Das Ganze teilen, WeinKulturGaden Thüngersheim
2023
über uns hinaus, Gottesackerkapelle, Stadtarchiv Crailsheim
Vom Keimen und Wachsen, Galerie Löhrl, Mönchengladbach
2024
Irritationen im Netz des Lebens, Kunstverein Münsterland
Group Exhibitions
2016
Echos, Museum für Sepulkralkultur, Kassel
2017
Kunsthoch45, Selection Exhibition Cusanuswerk, HFBK Dresden
Samowar, Galerie Coucou, Kassel
2018
third stone from the sun, Galerie Coucou, Kassel (with Frederick Vidal)
trio7, Kesselhaus Bamberg
Samowar, Galerie Coucou, Kassel
2019
Erste Fünf, Rathaus für Kultur, Lichtensteig, Switzerland
Kassel zu Gast in Mönchengladbach, Galerie Löhrl, Mönchengladbach
Dogo Totale, Rathaus für Kultur, Lichtensteig, Switzerland
Examen, Documentahalle, Kassel
Samowar, Galerie Coucou, Kassel
2020
Inhouse-Messe, Galerie Löhrl, Mönchengladbach
Nature Morte, Galerie Coucou, Kassel
Konturen der Natur (with Aja von Loeper and Joseph Stephan Wurmer), Galerie Maurer, Frankfurt
Transformationen, Ausstellungsraum 387, Kassel
2021
Inhouse-Messe, Galerie Löhrl, Mönchengladbach
Art and Nature II, Galerie Wehlau, Munich
Vier Elemente, Galerie Löhrl, Mönchengladbach
2022
love manifests, Galerie Coucou, Kassel
material as matter, Kunstmuseum Erlangen
2023
tierisch, Galerie Löhrl, Mönchengladbach
Erin Wiersma, Ruppert Eder, Paul Diestel, Galerie Wehlau, Munich
love manifests, Galerie Coucou, Kassel
2024
Ins Blaue hinein, Galerie Löhrl, Mönchengladbach
Im Wandel (with Max Gehlofen and Marco Wagner), Bürgerbräugelände Würzburg (Höfer)
love manifest, Galerie Coucou
Catalogs and Publications:
2017
Gegenden | Begegnungen, 2017, edited by Nora-Eugenie Gomringer for the International Artist House Villa Concordia Bamberg, 2017, texts by Nora-Eugenie Gomringer, Gunther Geltinger
2018
Paul Diestel, edited by Paul Diestel, 2018, text by Gunther Geltinger, 52 pages, edition: 500, sponsored by the Bank für Kirche und Caritas, Paderborn
2019
Final Catalog of the Kunsthochschule Kassel 2019, edited by Paul Diestel
Paul Diestel - Herbarium, edited by Kulturagentur, Landkreis Rhön-Grabfeld, texts by Dr. Astrid Hedrich-Scherpf, Christine Wehe-Bamberger
2021
zugewandt - Paul Diestel, edited by Paul Diestel (Debutant Sponsorship from the Free State of Bavaria), texts by Susanne Jakubczyk, Prof. Irene Daum, Michael Diestel, Paul Diestel, Gunther Geltinger
2022
Bronzeeditionen 2019-2022 - Paul Diestel, edited by Paul Diestel