British artist Issy Wood, one of the most sought-after artists of her generation in her early thirties, is presenting her first solo exhibition in Germany at the Schinkel Pavilion during Berlin Art Week. Her work resonates deeply with the restless millennial generation through paintings that explore the emotional significance of objects and their reflection of personal insecurities.
Millennials who had an obsession with blogging platforms in the early 2010s will remember those times: endless nights, scratched MacBook surfaces, and inexhaustible feeds. The new blogging culture kept many awake as they curated their own digital treasure boxes with washed-out dark photos, quoted song lyrics, and lyrical personal creations. Those who identify with the melancholy of classic Tumblr-grunge will experience a special reunion amid the works of Issy Wood.
Wood works at the intersection of painting, music, and literature, drawing her greatest inspiration from her blog "committothedish," which reads like an enigmatic diary. In her works, she explores the emotional meaning of objects and how they can reflect personal insecurities. How much self-doubt lies within a cute kitsch object? And why do we immediately experience the image of a car as some kind of masculine power fantasy? In Wood's universe, things are not silent props but are charged with human desires, shame, and identity.
The artist doesn't limit herself to traditional canvases, painting on furniture, clothing, and in the case of her sound installation at the Schinkel Pavilion, on instruments and amplifiers. Her shrill music crashes from Marshall speakers painted with dice – a symbol of luck and chance that runs through her recent works. Visitors could spend hours listening to the ghostly sounds while reminiscing about how carelessly chance could fill entire nights back then, and how close that mood suddenly feels again.
Despite her rising fame, Wood has no interest in cozying up to the art market establishment. The mega-gallery Gagosian courted her for representation, and star producer Mark Ronson wanted to launch her music on a grand scale through Sony Music. However, Wood turned both down, apparently not needing help from the big players and instead relying on her own universe. From blog to canvas, the rule remains: only what she wants gets in.
The exhibition "Issy Wood: Magic Bullet" runs at the Schinkel Pavilion on Oberwallstraße 32 until January 31, 2026, with admission priced at 6 euros and reduced admission at 4 euros. During Berlin Art Week, opening hours are Thursday-Friday 2-7 PM and Saturday-Sunday 11 AM-7 PM, offering art enthusiasts an immersive experience into Wood's dark yet compelling artistic world.
