EPISODE · Oct 22, 2025 · 35 MIN
How To Transition From East To West With Cornelia Thomsen
from SHIFT HAPPENS · host Cornelia Thomsen, Tilly Sveaas, Claudia Mahler
In today's episode, East-German born, New York based artist, Cornelia Thomsen shares her story of finding her way into becoming an artist. She gives insights into her socialistic upbringing in a small village near Dresden, and how she managed to get accepted to be trained as a porcelain painter at famous Meissen Porcelain Manufactory.Cornelia (a humble powerhouse!) shares how she had believed that the world she lived in would be it, until the Fall of the Berlin Wall, when she stormed into the big world and embraced it. Her worldview became liberated by the discovery of abstract art.Cornelia talks about resilience being her super power, and how she persistently worked as an artists, went to art school near Frankfurt (with two small children at home), moved to New York and started a gallery together with her husband (and meanwhile 3 children). Cornelia and I have known each other for almost 20 years, sharing experiences and emotions, raising children in Manhattan - an East German and a West German united on neutral grounds.Her work has been shown internationally, and is in collections of world renowned museums like LACMA in LA, museum of fine arts in Houston, the Parrasch Art Museum in Watermill, New York and others.AND: In August, just briefly after recording this episode, her newest series of works, the complete sets of Golden Ratio Series have been acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.#### On another note: I am so proud and excited to announce that SHIFT HAPPENS’ Season 5 is supported by London based jewellery brand Tilly Sveaas. Its founder, Tilly Sveaas creates gorgeous, timeless pieces that have been featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, The Times, The New York Times etc. … Her jewellery is for women of all ages. Guess who is wearing it too: noone less then Taylor Swift. Go to www.tillysveaas.co.uk and use my code SHIFTHAPPENS to get 15% off. To learn more about my guest Cornelia Thomsen, please visit her social media page:Instagram: @corneliathomsenartInstagram: @thomsengalleryWebsite: Cornelia ThomsenTo learn more about SHIFT HAPPENS, click here To learn more about Claudia's business Curated Conversations and her Salons in New York, Zurich and Berlin, click hereYou can also connect with Claudia on Instagram @shifthappens.podcast and LinkedIn at ClaudiaMahlerNYCThis podcast is created, produced and hosted by Claudia Mahler.
What this episode covers
In today's episode, East-German born, New York based artist, Cornelia Thomsen shares her story of finding her way into becoming an artist. She gives insights into her socialistic upbringing in a small village near Dresden, and how she managed to get accepted to be trained as a porcelain painter at famous Meissen Porcelain Manufactory. Cornelia (a humble powerhouse!) shares how she had believed that the world she lived in would be it, until the Fall of the Berlin Wall, when she stormed into the big world and embraced it. Her worldview became liberated by the discovery of abstract art. Cornelia talks about resilience being her super power, and how she persistently worked as an artists, went to art school near Frankfurt (with two small children at home), moved to New York and started a gallery together with her husband (and meanwhile 3 children). Cornelia and I have known each other for almost 20 years, sharing experiences and emotions, raising children in Manhattan - an East German and a West German united on neutral grounds. Her work has been shown internationally, and is in collections of world renowned museums like LACMA in LA, museum of fine arts in Houston, the Parrasch Art Museum in Watermill, New York and others. AND: In August, just briefly after recording this episode, her newest series of works, the complete sets of Golden Ratio Series have been acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
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How To Transition From East To West With Cornelia Thomsen
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