TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary

Ursula Mayer

Ursula Mayer is an Austrian-born artist whose work spans film, video installation, and performance. Known for her investigations into the intersections of gender, mythology, and the body, Mayer's practice questions established narratives and explores how historical and cultural systems shape our understanding of self and identity.

Mayer's interest in these themes became apparent early in her career, and her works often reflect a deep engagement with the fluidity of identity. She received her education at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, where she honed her skills in a variety of media. Her formative years as an artist were marked by an interest in how personal and collective histories inform contemporary life, with a particular focus on marginalized voices and alternative realities.

Mayer's film and video installations are often characterized by their poetic and cinematic style, blending the mythological and the contemporary to create compelling narratives that provoke thought and encourage reflection. She has frequently worked with female protagonists, exploring their relationship to myth, nature, and the personal transformation that occurs in the process of self-realization.

Her work is also known for incorporating elements of science fiction and the supernatural, drawing on diverse cultural references to create worlds that are both familiar and alien. Mayer's films often have a dreamlike quality, and her visual language invites the viewer to interpret meaning from the aesthetic rather than through explicit narrative.

Mayer continues to challenge and expand the possibilities of video art, employing abstraction and the exploration of cultural iconography to address issues such as societal control, individual autonomy, and the role of women in both historical and speculative contexts. Her work remains a powerful commentary on the politics of identity, with an emphasis on how personal and cultural mythologies shape our realities.

Related works in the collection

Ursula Mayer
Luminous Lining, 2015

The Ecologies of Peace

The Ecologies of Peace II Exhibition