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 Jan Künster was born in Bonn in 1951 and spent much of his youth with his Dutch Grandmother in Amsterdam. Even as a child the passion for art was already burning so many of Jan's formative days were spent in museums and galleries or watching the street painters over their shoulders. It was these images that set his future career. Jan Künster studied at the Cologne art school then found himself at an advertising agency. However, his love for painting took over and in 1976 Jan had his first single exhibition with his 'Portrait Series - Faces'. It was at this time he discovered the noble character of the horse and began studying his own horses.  With Jan's fascinating horse pictures he set new yardsticks, which led to international success in a very short space of time.These pictures are unmistakable in style are just as harmonious as dynamic. They reflect the movement of the horse and emit a radiance that communicates itself to the viewer. The art world was really taking notice and in 1982 Jan presented his pictures at the elite PSI auction in Ankum. A single exhibition followed in the same year in the small gallery of Mrs. Helga Capellmann in Aachen. Numerous exhibitions were lined up across Europe; Aachen, Hamburg Derby, Goodwood, Calgary, Copenhagen, Luxembourg, London and Paris. A comprehensive presentation 1993 in the Museum Lock Nörvenich, under the patronage by Professor Rita Süssmuth, was opened before 1000 invited guests, showing more than 100 exhibits.  Jan creates works for world class riders, politicians and sporting stars. He has painted many well known horses for their riders including Dr. Klimke (Biotop), Nadine Capellmann (Gracioso), Nicole Uphoff (Rembrandt), Klaus Balkenhol (Gold Star) and Isabell Werth (Gigolo). Jan painted a portrait for former American president Ronald Reagan and created an artwork depicting the well known race horse Northern Key for the largest racehorse owner in Japan. Jan Künster paints horse pictures in a range of styles from naturalism to abstract, from water colour to acrylic. However his passion is with the wide figures (3x4m), which argue in abstract realism with the myth horse. Jan Künster's pictures are now shown around the world in numerous single exhibitions. They are seen in museums, including the Museum Of European Kind in New York, as well as in many private collections. Jan's pictures also hang in the offices of the Royal Stables of Oman.  Jan paints the Hengstaufzüchter Price Annual on behalf the National Stud goods village and he exclusively designs for Ziert Horse Trailers and Transporters on behalf of the vehicle manufacturer Boeckmann. After the success of his art work Jan's pictures also appear in a yearly calendar with 12 monthly sheets, which is produced by the Künster's own Edition Modity publishing house. The works of Jan are very versatile and it is not always horses that end up on the canvas. His largest work was created for the group of firms 'Kampmann'. The entrance of their administration building is now decorated with three enormous Künster pictures measuring 4x14 metres. The acrylic work is designed to mirror the firm's philosophy of enterprise with the topics water - earth - sun. The gigantic work, of which Jan worked on for months, is developed from 128 canvases. 
Jan Künster lives and works with his family in Bonn. At present the family also own five horses including the young Hengst Don Giovanni, Don Vino/Brentano and the extravagantly moving Dunkelfuchsstute v. Brentano/Top Of Class. |