Bed of Roses

Born 1982 in Linz, Austria. Daniel Ferstl’s practice explores the visual languages of social media, consumer culture, and contemporary popular iconography. Working primarily with large-scale textile collages, he transforms the ephemeral imagery of digital culture—from TikTok aesthetics and internet memes to fan merchandise—into meticulously crafted compositions that evoke the material presence and historical gravity of painting. Hand-stitched details coexist with bold graphic vocabularies, while digital symbols intersect with references to classical modes of composition. Ferstl examines consumption not merely as an economic activity but as a cultural condition that shapes perception, desire, and identity. His works deploy the seductive strategies of advertising and influencer culture, drawing viewers into a visual field that is at once familiar and disarming. Functioning as material archives of the present, these textile assemblages preserve the fleeting imagery of contemporary life, suspending it long enough to invite critical reflection. Oscillating between spectacle and sincerity, humour and critique, refinement and kitsch, Ferstl’s practice reveals the mechanisms through which images circulate, acquire value, and construct meaning. By translating the visual excess of digital culture into tactile, labor-intensive objects, he exposes the extent to which the logic of consumption has become embedded in our collective imagination and everyday experience. Selected Solo & Duo Shows 2025 “Backseat Dreamer”, Proyecto Reme, Palma, Spain 2024 “For you !Kneedeepinthehoopla”, Wonnerth-Dejaco, Vienna, Austria 2023 “Plop Residency”, with Joe Cheetham, London, UK 2022 “Lovers”, Wonnerth Dejaco, Vienna, Austria 2021 “The Sleeper must awaken”, Sink, Vienna, Austria 2019 “FouFou Contemporary’s Inaugural Show”, duo show with Josip Novosel, FouFou Contemporary, Vienna, Austria 2019 “Nachtleuchtendes/Blumenantwort”, duo show with Marianne Vlaschits, Salon Goldschlag, Vienna, Austria 2018 “Life Death”, Justice, Vienna, Austria 2017 “Artist Statement”, Parallel, Vienna, Austria 2015 “baby, please stop crying...”, Ve.Sch Vienna, Austria 2015 “OOH EEH OOH AH AH”, MUSA Startgalerie, Vienna, Austria 2014 “Mavericks”, New Jörg, Vienna, Austria 2013 “Dear Diary/Bridget/Potpourri”; curated by Werner Rodlauer, BSA Gallery, Vienna, Austria 2012 “Anthem”, duo show with Titania Seidl”, Heiligenkreuzerhof, Vienna, Austria 2012 “Patterned Phantoms”, Dreieck Studio, Vienna, Austria 2010 “Searching for Bigfoot”, Galerie Ulrike Hrobsky, Vienna, Austria 2009 “Temple”, Galerie Ulrike Hrobsky, Vienna, Austria 2009 “Engfer/Ferstl”, duo show with Dana Engfer, Gallery BMB, Amsterdam, Netherlands 2009 “Stefan Pani/Daniel Ferstl”, showroom for young art Hrobsky, Vienna, Austria 2009 “Bad Choice”, duo show with J.P. van Hoeck, AKH Contemporary, Vienna, Austria 2008 “Ruler of Otherworld”, Galerie Ulrike Hrobsky, Vienna, Austria Selected Group Exhibitions 2025 “UNWRAPPED”, Better Go South, Berlin, Germany 2025 “Reinvention”, Wunderkunst, Munich, Germany 2025 “Små værker - Store fortællinger”, Annika Nuttal Gallery, Aarhus, Denmark 2024 “Lichtekooi”, Sink, Antwerp, Belgium 2024 “The Mountain Outside Our Window”, curated by Katharina Höglinger, WONNERTH DEJACO, Vienna, Austria 2023 “Tuercas. Una historia de ciencia ficción recluida en giros”, L21, Palma, Spain 2023 “Über das Neue. Wiener Szenen und darüber hinaus”, Teil 2, Belvedere 21, Vienna, Austria 2023 “I like it, what is it?”, curated by Claus Busch Risvig, Albert Contemporary, Odense, Denmark 2023 “Atletica Ideal sinks in Magic, Sex and Politics”, curated by Erika Olea, presentation of the Family Servais Collection, The Loft, Brussels, Belgium 2020 “DIZZY MOUSE”, Zeller van Almsick, Vienna, Austria 2020 “not.Cancelled Salon”, curated by Karim Crippa, Online Show 2020 “TREMARE”, Frappant, Hamburg, Germany 2020 “Hypersurface”, Austrian Cultural Forum, London, UK 2020 “HOT PAPER”, GIFC Worldwide, Online Group Show 2020 “Coloring Quarantine”, Exile, Vienna, Online Group Show 2019 “B”, Belmacz, London, UK 2018 “Angebliche Väter”, GanicaStautz, Vienna, Austria 2018 “Bar du Bois Kultur”, Foundation, Vienna, Austria 2018 “Ashtray Show West”, Belmacz, London, UK 2017 “BODIKON”, Belmacz, London, UK 2016 “Absolute Beginnings”, Zeller van Almsick Projekte, Vienna, Austria 2016 “MAUVE”, Club Pro, Los Angeles, US 2016 “Instagram Now! 2016 Sketchbooks, Portfolios, Diaries”, Belvedere, Vienna, Austria 2016 “Monpti”, by Philipp Grünewald & Ivan Pérard, Aquarium, Akademie der bildenden Künste, Vienna, Austria 2016 “why the long face, black sphinx”, Mauve at Drop City, Newcastle, UK 2016 “Hybrids”, We Are Hercules, Munich, Germany 2015 “Destination Vienna”, Kunsthalle Wien, Vienna, Austria 2015 “sharing space”, curated by Victoria Dejaco, Alte Post, Vienna, Austria 2014 “Toons Like Us and Toons Like Us (Reprise)”, two shows curated by Melanie Ohnemus, WellWellWell, Vienna, Austria 2014 “One Mauve Gallery”, with Salvatore Viviano, Titania Seidl and Lukas Thaler, Vienna, Austria 2014 “Work”, with Salvatore Viviano, Titania Seidl and Lukas Thaler, Mauve, Vienna, Austria 2014 “GOOFY”, studios das weisse haus, Vienna, Austria 2014 “FIRST EMERALD THEN SAPPHIRE THEN BLACK”, curated by Christian Weidner & Edin Zenun, Atelierhaus der Akademie der bildenden Künste, Vienna, Austria 2014 “Achtzig für Achtzig”, Sammlung Achim Freyer, Berlin, Germany 2014 “Carnation”, Kunsthalle Ganglbauergasse, Vienna, Austria 2013 “Jakob Breit/Daniel Ferstl/Titania Seidl, Je Regrette”, Berlin, Germany 2013 “Verfhond’s 2013 Painting Show”, Art Initiative Verfhond, Appels Gallery, Amsterdam, Netherlands 2012 “A Small Embassy of Living Painters”, Appels Gallery, Amsterdam, Netherlands 2012 “Koaxiale 12”, Künstlerhaus Wien, Vienna, Austria 2011 “Junge Positionen”, Galerie Ulrike Hrobsky, Vienna, Austria 2011 “Zeichnung Wien II”, Galerie Ulrike Hrobsky, Vienna, Austria 2011 “METAmART”, Künstlerhaus Wien, Vienna, Austria 2010 “VIECHEREI”, Galerie Ulrike Hrobsky, Vienna, Austria 2009 “Großer Geist, bewahre uns!”, Kabelwerk, Vienna, Austria 2008 “The Essence”, MAK Wien, Vienna, Austria 2008 “Endless Love”, University of Applied Arts, Vienna, Austria 2008 “The Master does not approve!”, Diplomausstellung, University of Applied Arts, Vienna, Austria 2007 “GOLD”, KUNSTHALLE project space, Vienna, Austria 2007 “Young Style”, Platan Gallery, Budapest, Hungary 2007 “Winterausstellung”, Galerie Noack, Mönchengladbach, Germany 2006 “o.T.”, Galerie Noack, Mönchengladbach, Germany 2006 “Don Giovanni: Einer von uns”, ws-forum, Vienna, Austria 2006 “Sommerfrische”, Galerie artMark, Vienna, Austria 2005 “Die Angewandte @Institut f. Bildende Kunst”, Kunstakademie, Münster, Germany 2005 “Soho in Ottakring”, Showroom Galerie Ulrike Hrobsky, Vienna, Austria 2005 “WollenKunst”, Künstlerhaus Wien, Vienna, Austria 2005 “Junger Österreicher”, MAK Wien, Vienna, Austria 2005 “4 Positionen junger Malerei”, Galerie artMark, Spittal a. Phyrn, Austria 2005 “Grundstein”, Showroom Galerie Ulrike Hrobsky, Vienna, Austria 2004 “Märchen auf den Kopf gestellt”, Stadtgalerie Wien, Vienna, Austria Works in collections Collection of the State of Austria, Austria Collection Famille Servais, Brussels, Belgium Collection of Marcel Buchberger, Vienna, Austria Collection of the City of Vienna, Austria Pro Helvetia, Switzerland Awards, Prizes & Grants 2016 Shortlisted for Strabag Art Award, Austria 2015 Shortlist for Strabag Art Award, Austria 2014 das weißehaus Studios, Vienna, Austria Other Projects 2020 D. Tulip Editions (art edition project) 2018 Music Video Tents - “Sabatical” 2016 Five Highs (music project) 2012 MAUVE (founding member of the artist run space)