Babette Werner
Babette Werner is an art and visual historian, curator, and writer whose work explores the intersections of art, ecology, technology, and contemporary socio-environmental transformation. Her research and curatorial practice focus on interdisciplinary exhibitions, publication projects, and community-based formats across the visual and performing arts, with particular attention to questions of time, process, materiality, and more-than-human relations.
She has developed curatorial and research projects with international institutions including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, Kunsthalle Mannheim, the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich, and the Nationalgalerie – Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. In 2022, she co-founded Dragoner.0x – Super Contemporary Arts Fest, a collectively curated exhibition platform based at Berlin's Dragonerareal that reimagines public space through situated curatorial practices developed in collaboration with local communities and more-than-human actors.
Since 2022, Werner has been a doctoral researcher at Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Her practice-based PhD, supervised by Prof. Dr. Claudia Blümle, Professor of History and Theory of Form at the Institute of Art and Visual History at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Prof. Dr. Claudia Mareis, Professor of Design and History of Knowledge at the Department of Cultural History and Theory at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, investigates the analog and digital re/staging of process-based and intermedia art from the late 1950s to the present and their potential for sustainable archival and curatorial practices in postdigital contexts. Focusing on the work of Otto Piene, her research explores ecological aesthetics through artistic engagements with natural phenomena, light, media, and temporality. Her doctoral research was supported by the Gerda Henkel Foundation (2020–2024).
Werner is co-editor, with Claudia Mareis and Carolin Ott, of Matters of Activity: Rethinking Materiality, Rethinking Knowledge (Birkhäuser, 2026), the final publication of the Matters of Activity Cluster of Excellence. She is an active member of the Art | Material | Ecology research group at HBK Braunschweig and publishes on art, curatorial practice, and visual culture.
Cluster of Excellence
»Matters of Activity«
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Sophienstr. 22a
10178 Berlin
Edited Volumes & Exhibition Catalogues
Mareis, C., Ott, C., Werner, B. eds. 2026. Matters of Activity. Rethinking Materiality, Rethinking Knowledge. Basel: Birkhäuser.
Articles in Edited Volumes
Werner, B, Jordan, A. D. H., Winkler, C. 2026. »About Clouds, Robots and the Sea – Thoughts on the Aesthetics of Metabolic Formations, Biodiversity and New Ecologies in Art and Design.« In In Stretching Materialities. Negotiating Boundaries in Exhibition Research, edited by Winkler, C., Stein, C., Object Space Agency. Hamburg: adocs publishing, 253–261.
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.53198/9783943253955
Werner, B. 2024. »Visualizing the Invisible. Touch in Analogue and Virtual Space.« In Marta Djourina. Foxfire, edited by Cristea, N, Djourina, M. Trans. of Visualisierung des Unsichtbaren: Berührung im analogen und virtuellen Raum. Berlin: Distanz, 40-87.
https://www.distanz.de/en/marta-djourina/foxfire
Werner, Babette. 2024. »Matthias Grund. From the infinite Depths of the digital Engine Room. Other Images.« In Gute Aussichten. Junge deutsche Fotografie 2023/2024, edited by Becht, Stefan, Raab, Josephine Gravenstein: ScandinavianBook, 72-93.
Werner, B. 2023. »Jette Held. If Water Could Write | Wenn Wasser schreiben könnte.« In Gute Aussichten. Junge deutsche Fotografie 2022/2023 – New German Photography 2022/2023, Ausst.-Kat. Deichtorhallen Hamburg, edited by Becht, S., Raab, J. Gravenstein: ScandinavianBook, 20-42.
Werner, B. 2023. »Touchpoint (2021) and Touch Stream (2023)—Visualizing Touch with Kirlian Photography and Digital Simulation.« In Marta Djourina. AArtist in Residence Program 2022, edited by Landesverband Berliner Galerien (lvbg) Trans. of Touchpoint (2021) und Touch Stream (2023)—Visualisierung von Berührung durch Kirlian-Fotografie und digitale Simulation. Berlin: Landesverband Berliner Galerien (lvbg), 12-13.
Werner, B. 2021. »Leon Billerbeck. Nothing Compares to You: Ataxia/Ataraxia.« In Gute Aussichten. New German Photography 2020/2021, edited by Becht, S., Raab, J. Gravenstein: ScandinavianBook, 38-61.
Highlighted by https://www.deichtorhallen.de/en/ausstellung/gute-aussichten-2022.
Werner, B. 2019. »Juliane Jaschnow. The Modeling and Staging of our Memory Mass: Recapitulation.« In Gute Aussichten. New German Photography 2019/2020, edited by Becht, S, Raab, J. 2019/2020. Gravenstein: ScandinavianBook, 64-75.
Highlighted by https://www.deichtorhallen.de/ausstellung/gute-aussichten-2020-2019.
Werner, B. 2018. »Robert ter Horst. Dances with Pixels: Playtime.« In Gute Aussichten. New German Photography 2018/2019, edited by Becht, S., Raab, J. Munich: Sieveking, 142-157.
Highlighted by https://www.deichtorhallen.de/en/ausstellung/gute-aussichten-2018-2019.
Werner, B. 2016. »George Condo. Stations of a Life.« In George Condo. Confrontation, edited by Kittelmann, U., Rappe, F. Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, 24-27.
Werner, B. 2016. »Marta Djourina. Between Media. The Dematerialization of the Everyday.« IBB-Preis für Photographie 2016 Berlin. In Marta Djourina, edited by Investitionsbank Berlin Universität der Künste Berlin, 22-25.
https://usercontent.one/wp/www.martadjourina.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Marta_Djourina_Zwischen_Medien-Die_Entmaterialisierung_des_Alltags_Text-Babette_Marie_Werner_IBB_Preis_fuer_Fotografie.pdf
Werner, B. 2016. »Mia Autio. Nothing is how it is: Variation of White.« In Gute Aussichten. New German Photography 2016/2017, edited by Becht, S., Raab, J. Trans. of Mia Autio. Nichts ist, wie es ist: Variation of White. München: Sieveking, 24-43.
Lukowicz, M., Werner, B. 2015. »Otto Piene. Biography.« In Otto Piene. Licht, edited by Arnhold, H., Lukowicz, M. Bielefeld: Kerber, 226-230.
Werner, B. 2015. »Maja Wirkus. Praesens || Present. Sculptural photography in space and image.« In Gute Aussichten. New German Photography 2015/2016, edited by Becht, S., Raab, J. Trans. of Maja Wirkus. Praesens || Präsens. Skulpturale Fotografie im Raum und im Bild. Heidelberg: DPunkt, 154-167.
Werner, B. 2015. »Otto Piene. Biography.« In Otto Piene. Rainbow, edited by Alemi, M Düsseldorf/Tehran: Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, 58-67.
Highlighted by https://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/kunst-teheran-zeigt-erstmals-zero-kuenstler-otto-piene-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-150224-99-01144.
Werner, B, 2014. »The Proliferation of the Sun.« In Otto Piene. More Sky, edited by Jäger, J. Trans. of Die Sonne kommt näher. Berlin: Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, 4.
Highlighted by https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/kunst-und-architektur/otto-piene-in-berlin-die-sonne-im-nachthimmel-13049177.html.
Werner, B. 2013. »Alchemy of the Everyday.« Exh. cat., Kunsthalle Mannheim. In Nur Skulptur!, edited by Ecker, B., Lorenz, U., Patruno, S. Trans. of Alchemie des Alltags. Heidelberg: Kehrer, 156-161.
Werner, B. 2013. »Optic - Haptic - Acoustic.« In Nur Skulptur!, edited by Ecker, B., Lorenz, U., Patruno, S. Trans. of Optik – Haptik – Akustik. Heidelberg: Kehrer, 90-97.
Werner, B. 2013. »Prototype - Individual - Body Cover.« Exhib. cat., Kunsthalle Mannheim. In Nur Skulptur!, edited by Ecker, B., Lorenz, U., Patruno, S. Trans. of Prototyp – Individuum – Körperhülle. Heidelberg: Kehrer, 162-167.
Werner, B. 2013. »The Image of the Human Being in Modern Age.« Exhib. cat., Kunsthalle Mannheim. In Nur Skulptur!, edited by Ecker, B., Lorenz, U., Patruno, S. Trans. of Das Menschenbild in der Moderne. Heidelberg: Kehrer, 144-155.
Highlighted by https://www.kulturstiftung-des-bundes.de/en/programmes_projects/image_and_space/detail/sculpture_only.html.
Articles
Werner, B. 2024. »From Natural Phenomena to Digital Matter: (Re-)Staging Earthworks and Performance Art in Digital Spaces | Von Naturphänomenen zu digitaler Materie: (Re-)Inszenierung von Earthworks und Performancekunst in digitalen Räumen.« In The Work of Art in the Age of Digitalization, special issue. Trópos. Journal of Hermeneutics and Philosophical Criticism.
Werner, B. 2014. »Otto Piene. More Sky.« MuseumsJournal, 03 (2014): 58-59.
Conference Proceedings
Werner, B., Caianiello, T. 2019. »Changing Media in Slide Installations. Digital and Analogue Stagings of Works by Otto Piene.« Presented at »Back to the Future. Riding the Slide Carousel«, Hamburger Kunsthalle, 18-19 January 2018. Bielefeld: Kerber, 114-134.
Highlighted by https://www.hamburger-kunsthalle.de/en/back-future-im-karussell-der-diakonservierung.
Werner, B. 2018. »Restaging the Proliferation of the Sun in 2014: The Digital Projections.« Presented at Light on/off: reconstruction and presentation of light installations on the occasion of the exhibition »Zero ist gut für dich: Mack, Piene, Uecker in Bonn, 1966/2016«, LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn, 8 December 2016. Bonn/Düsseldorf: LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn, 88–99.
Highlighted by https://landesmuseum-bonn.lvr.de/en/ausstellungen/archiv/zero_ist_gut_fuer_dich/zero_ist_gut_fuer_dich.html.
Exhibitions
Werner, B., Alt, Y., Bortt, L., Herdlicka, J. (co-founders, curators), Kesselring, R., Schneider, M. (contributors). Dragoner.03—Super Contemporary Arts Fest. Exhibition. Dragonerareal, Berlin-Kreuzberg. 25 July 2025 - 30 July 2025.
https://dragoner0x.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYKFjY4krjx04pdJ4MRuQUNFXo5dr_nAmXiyQWUP8rvgXSettDVTFgboss_aem_pE3OrXA2i4axcrwG78RnzA
Werner, B., Alt, Y., Bortt, L., Herdlicka, J. (co-founders, curators), Winkler, C. (contributor). Dragoner.02—Super Contemporary Arts Fest. Exhibition. Dragonerareal, Berlin-Kreuzberg. 2 August 2024 - 7 August 2024.
Alt, Y., Bortt, L., Herdlicka, J., Werner, B. Dragoner.01 – Super Contemporary Arts Fest. Exhibition. Dragonerareal, Berlin. 4 August 2023 - 6 August 2023.
https://dragoner0x.com/
Highlighted by https://kubaparis.com/submission/362377.
Rief, M., Werner, B. Marie Rief. Identity by repetition. Exhibition. Willy-Brandt-Haus, Berlin. 15 September 2022 - 27 November 2022.
https://www.fkwbh.de/ausstellung/identity-repetition
Gebbers, A.-C. (curator), Kittelmann, U. (curator), Werner, B (management assistant). Julian Rosefeldt. Manifesto. Exhibition. Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart. 10 February 2016 - 6 November 2016.
https://www.smb.museum/en/exhibitions/detail/julian-rosefeldt-manifesto/
Kittelmann, U. (curator), Rappe, F. (curator), Werner, B. (co-curator) George Condo. Confrontation. Exhibition. Museum Berggruen. 19 November 2016 - 1 May 2017.
https://www.smb.museum/en/exhibitions/detail/george-condo-confrontation/
Kittelmann, U. (curator), Mattheus, S. (co-curator), Werner, B. (management assistant). Mary Heilmann & David Reed. Two By Two. Exhibition. Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart. 6 March 2015 - 11 October 2015.
https://www.smb.museum/en/exhibitions/detail/mary-heilmann-david-reed-two-by-two/
Kittelmann, U. (curator), Odier, A. (coordinator), Werner, B. (assistant coordinator). Kraftwerk: 3-D concert series. Exhibition. Neue Nationalgalerie. 6 January 2015 - 13 January 2015.
https://www.smb.museum/en/whats-new/detail/kraftwerk-3-d-concert-series-at-the-neue-nationalgalerie-january-6-13-2015/
Roumiguière, M. (curator), Hoheisel, G. (assistant curator), Werner, B. (management assistant). Michael Beutler. Moby Dick. Exhibition. Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart. 17 April 2015 - 6 September 2015.
https://www.smb.museum/en/exhibitions/detail/michael-beutler-moby-dick/
Wesenberg, A. (curator), Werner, B. (management assistant) Impressionism - Expressionism. Art at a Turning Point. Exhibition. Alte Nationalgalerie. 22 May 2015 - 20 September 2015.
https://www.smb.museum/en/exhibitions/detail/impressionism-expressionism-art-at-a-turning-point/
Eliasson, O. (curator), Ellingsen, E. (curator), Werner, C. (curator), Werner, B. (curatorial assistant) et al. Festival of Future Nows → ∞. Exhibition. Neue Nationalgalerie. 30 October 2014 - 1 November 2014.
https://futurenows.net/2014/
Jäger, J.(curator), Werner, B. (curator). Otto Piene. More Sky. Exhibition. Neue Nationalgalerie and Deutsche Bank KunstHalle.. 17 July 2014 - 31 August 2014.
https://www.smb.museum/en/exhibitions/detail/otto-piene-more-sky/
Highlighted by https://www.monopol-magazin.de/der-himmel-so-weit.
Kittelmann, U. (curator), Jäger, J. (curator), Söll, N. (assistant curator), Werner, B. (management assistant). David Chipperfield - Sticks and Stones, an Intervention. Exhibition. Neue Nationalgalerie. 2 October 2014 - 31 December 2014.
https://www.smb.museum/en/exhibitions/detail/david-chipperfield-sticks-and-stones-an-intervention/
Kittelmann, U. (curator), Schmitz, B. (curator), Werner, B. (management assistant). Gottfried Lindauer. The Māori Portraits. Exhibition. Alte Nationalgalerie. 20 November 2014 - 12 April 2015.
https://www.smb.museum/en/exhibitions/detail/gottfried-lindauer-the-maori-portraits/
Bock, J. (artist), Ecker, B. (curator), Lorenz, U. (curator), Patruno, S. (co-curator), Signer, R. (artist), Smith, K. (artist), Werner, B. (assistant curator). Nur Skulptur! Exhibition. 16 March 2013 - 17 November 2013.
https://www.kulturstiftung-des-bundes.de/en/programmes_projects/image_and_space/detail/sculpture_only.html
Heid, B. (curator), Lepik, A. (curator), Rose, C. (coordinator), Sanchez Serrano, L. (coordinator), Schmitzberger, R. (curator), Schwenk, B. (curator), Storz, K. (coordinator), Strobl, H. (curator), Werner, B. (coordinator). Schaustelle – der temporäre Aktionsraum für die Pinakothek der Moderne. Exhibition. Schaustelle der Pinakothek der Moderne. 13 April 2013 - 15 September 2013.
http://schaustelle-pdm.de/about/
Gómez-Márquez, J. (curator Berlin Lab Team), Ratti, C. (curator Berlin Lab Team), Rose, C. (curator Berlin Lab Team), Smith, R. (curator Berlin Lab Team), Nicanor, M. (curator), Henke, L. (coordinator), Storz, K. (assistant coordinator), Debicki, C. (assistant public programs), Kleff, Y. (assistant public programs), Koziel, P. (assistant public programs), Werner, B. (assistant public programs). BMW Guggenheim Lab Berlin. Exhibition. Pfefferberg, Berlin. 15 June 2012 - 29 July 2012.
http://www.bmwguggenheimlab.org/
Talks & Presentations
Werner, B. (lecturer). Re/Staging Process-Based Art in Public Green Spaces as Strategy of Knowing and »Naturalcultural« Making. Panel Presentation at the Diffracting the Critical: STS Hub 2025, Sense-Acts and the Diffracting Theater: From the Intelligible to the Sensible Through Artistic Media Practices. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 11 March 2025.
https://sts-hub.de/25/panels.html
Werner, B. (Lecturer). Future Public Spaces. Panel Presentation at the Pollinator Pathmaker: Summer Programme, Future Public Spaces. Museum für Naturkunde Berlin. 26 August 2024.
Werner, B. (Lecturer) About Clouds, Robots and the Sea – Thoughts on the Aesthetics of Metabolic Formations, Biodiversity and New Ecologies in Art and Design. Keynote at the Contribution to the exhibition Stretching Materialities – Hidden Activities in Objects and Spaces, Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 16 September 2021 - 4 March 2022, Tieranatomisches Theater, Berlin. Hybrid. 28 February 2022.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/7517/about-clouds-robots-and-the-sea-thoughts-on-the-aesthetics-of-metabolic-formations-biodiversity-and-new-ecologies-in-art-and-design
Werner, B. (Moderator), Rief, M. Identity by Repetition. Talk at the Artist talk with Marie Rief, Willy-Brandt-Haus, Berlin. Within the framework of the exhibition »Marie Rief. Identity by Repetition« at Willy-Brandt-Haus, Berlin, 15. September 2022 - 27. November 2022. Funded by Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien. 15 November 2022.
https://www.fkwbh.de/ausstellung/identity-repetition
Highlighted by https://taz.de/Die-Kunst-der-Woche-fuer-Berlin/!5879601/.
Werner, B. (moderator/organizer), Winkler, C. (organizer), Jordan, A. D. H. About Clouds, Robots and the Sea – Thoughts on the Aesthetics of Metabolic Formations, Biodiversity and New Ecologies in Art and Design. Artist talk with Anne Duk Hee Jordan and Clemens Winkler in conversation with Babette Marie Werner, Tieranatomisches Theater, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Contribution to the exhibition Stretching Materialities – Hidden Activities in Objects and Spaces, Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 16 September 2021 - 4 March 2022. Hybrid. 28 February 2022.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/7517/about-clouds-robots-and-the-sea-thoughts-on-the-aesthetics-of-metabolic-formations-biodiversity-and-new-ecologies-in-art-and-design
Werner, B. Strategies of (Re-)Staging process-based art by Otto Piene within the context of the 1960s. Talk at the Scaling Matters: From the Lab to the Field. Progress Presentations Doctoral Program, Landgut Stober, Brandenburg. Cluster Retreat 2022. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 13 September 2022.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/9125/scaling-matters-from-the-lab-to-the-field
Werner, B. (Lecturer), Caianiello, T. (Lecturer), Changing Media in Slide Installations. Digital and Analogue Stagings of Works by Otto Piene. Keynote at the Back to the Future. Riding the Slide Carousel, Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg. 1 January 2018.
https://www.hamburger-kunsthalle.de/en/back-future-im-karussell-der-diakonservierung
Werner, B. Restaging the Proliferation of the Sun in 2014: The Digital Projections. Talk at the Restaging ZERO. Light on/off: reconstruction and presentation of light installations, Slide Projections: Analogue vs. Digital. LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn. An interdisciplinary knowledge transfer meeting on the occasion of the Exhibition »Zero ist gut für dich: Mack, Piene, Uecker in Bonn, 1966/2016« at the LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn, 26 November 2016 - 26 March 2017. 8 December 2016.
https://landesmuseum-bonn.lvr.de/en/ausstellungen/archiv/zero_ist_gut_fuer_dich/zero_ist_gut_fuer_dich.html
Invited Moderation/ Comment
Werner, B. (moderator). »Rewilding the Museum«, Discussion with Dehlia Hannah, curator and philosopher of nature, Kopenhagen University. Art | Material | Ecology Working Group Meeting. Virtual. 16 May 2025.
Werner, B. (moderator). »Coexistence, Symbiosis and Cohabitation in Visual Art Practices, Curating, and Teaching«, Discussion with Pauline Doutreluingne, Curator and Filmmaker, Leader of the MA Program Spatial Strategies at weißensee kunsthochschule berlin. Virtual. 26 August 2024.
Hehemeyer-Cürten, J., Schäffner, A., Werner, B. MATTERSCAPES. A Studio Visit. Doctoral Presentations, adapt, transform, revaluate, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Matters of Activity, Berlin. Moderation by Beyer, Bastian. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 27 June 2023.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/11320/matterscapes-a-studio-visit
Events & Workshops
Werner, B. »Art-Science-Collaborations: Establishing a Research Agenda«, Participatory Forum at ZKM Karlsruhe. Karlsruhe. 6 October 2023 - 7 October 2023.
https://scheringstiftung.de/en/programm/dialog/veranstaltungen/art-science-collaborations-establishing-a-research-agenda/
Teaching & Courses
Werner, B., Kudinova, C. Das Material in der Kunst. Tendenzen der 1950er und 1970er-Jahre. Seminar, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 14 April 2025 - 14 July 2025.
https://qis.hu-berlin.de/lupo/rds?state=verpublish&status=init&vmfile=no&publishid=230665&moduleCall=webInfo&publishConfFile=webInfo&publishSubDir=veranstaltung
Kudinova, Claudia, Werner, Babette. ZERO. Licht- und Raumkunst der 1950er und 1960er Jahre. Block Seminar, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 23 October 2023 - 12 February 2024.
https://agnes.hu-berlin.de/lupo/rds?state=verpublish&status=init&vmfile=no&publishid=211201&moduleCall=webInfo&publishConfFile=webInfo&publishSubDir=veranstaltung
Werner, B. Academic Research, Writing and Learning Techniques. Practical course, Berliner Hochschule für Technik (BHT). 5 October 2023 - 2 February 2024.
Werner, B. Presenting Techniques. Practical course, Berliner Hochschule für Technik (BHT). 5 October 2023 - 2 February 2024.
External Grants, Fellowships, Scholarships & Residencies
Werner, B. 2020. PhD Scholarship. Gerda Henkel Stiftung Scholarship.
https://www.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/en/
Cooperations
Werner, B. et al (Member) Since 2023. Art Science Collaborations: Establishing a Research Agenda.
https://scheringstiftung.de/en/programm/dialog/veranstaltungen/art-science-collaborations-establishing-a-research-agenda/
Memberships
Ninnis, K., Ströbele, U., Werner, B. et al. Since 2023. Art | Material | Ecology Working Group. Member.
https://www.zikg.eu/forschung/projekte/projekte-zi/arbeitskreis-art-material-ecology