Carsten Westphal became known as a desert painter because he loves the silence and untouched nature of the boundless expanses. So he travels with camels through sandy deserts to find the perfect place to paint, climbs volcanoes, climbs mountains or walks through icy landscapes. The mystical magic of pristine natural landscapes is the source of inspiration for Westphal's art. The structures of the deserts, the rough rock formations of the mountains, the jagged ice of the glaciers and the silvery-black lava of the volcanoes magically attract the artist. Yet his theme is not the realistic depiction of nature, but the experience of elemental forces and their translation into an abstract pictorial language. Westphal immerses himself in nature, exposes himself to heat, cold, sun and wind and thus feels the energy of the elements while painting. He uses materials collected on site, such as desert sand, rock dust ground down by the wind, mud, salt, ice or lava. In order to make the elemental traces of nature visible in the composition of the picture, it takes several revisions. Only when the picture reaches a certain density does a vivid depth effect emerge.

since 1996 freelance artist
Represented at numerous exhibitions at home and abroad. 
Since 2003 expeditions to the deserts of the world. 
Since 2010 Travelling to the volcanoes of the world to paint pictures there as well.
Since 2011 Travelling to the mountain worlds of the world to paint relief pictures on glaciers and in the mountains.

Carsten Westphal's paintings are in public and private collections and museums. 

Since 2010, he has taught at art academies in Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland and Italy.

Numerous TV appearances, portraits and articles about his work in magazines and newspapers.


Exhibitions (selection)

2023
MMMuseum Firmian, South Tyrol
MMMuseum Ortles, South Tyrol
Gallery FlowFineArt, Leverkusen
Gallery HMH, Mallorca

2022
Municipal Gallery Bad Reichenhall

2021
Dr. Robert-Gerlich Museum, Burghausen
Night of the Museums, Fabrik am See, Horn

2020
Main Church St. Jacobi, Hamburg

2019
Art Association Cuxhaven
Luzia Sassen Gallery, Cologne

2018
Galeria HMH, Port d'Andratx, Mallorca, Spain
Gallery Minsky, Paris, France
Planetarium, Hamburg
ART LINGEN with a special exhibition, Lingen

2017
Kura Gallery, Hamburg

2016
Gallery Ewa Helena, Hamburg
Galeria HMH, Port d'Andratx, Mallorca
Messner Mountain Museum Corones, Italy
AAF Amsterdam, Holland
Museum of Transport, Dresden

2015
Factory of the Arts, Hamburg


2014
Affordable Art Fair, Brussels, Belgium
Gallery Hella Maria Höfer, Port d'Andratx, Mallorca, Spain
Gallery F.G. Conzen, Düsseldorf

2013
Affordable Art Fair, Amsterdam, Holland
Mountain Messner Museum Firmian, Italy

2012
Affordable Art Fair, Hamburg
Gallery F.G. Conzen, Düsseldorf