Ilse Rex-Lenius was born in 1942 in Halle/Saale. After graduating from high school in Merseburg/Saale in 1961, she worked as a design engineer in 1965. In 1972, she began her journey in painting, both as a circle leader and through studying at the Special School for Painting and Graphic Arts in Halle, completing her education in 1975. Since 1977, she has worked as a freelance painter and circle leader.

Her artistic journey led her to become a candidate member of the Association of Fine Artists in the GDR Halle from 1987 to 1989. In 1990, she began working as a painting therapist and also became the leader of the “Merseburger Wednesday Painters” (MMM). In 2001, she moved to Friedrichsrode in Northern Thuringia, where she continued her artistic work.

From 2005 to 2011, Ilse Rex-Lenius was a founding member of the artist group ANNA MAL 5 in Merseburg and has been a member of the Kunstwestthüringer e.V. since then.

EXHIBITIONS
Ilse Rex-Lenius has participated in numerous exhibitions in cities such as Merseburg, Halle, Leipzig, Sondershausen, Breitenworbis, Attendorn, Neu-Ulm, Nordhausen, Friedrichsrode, Mühlhausen, Bad Langensalza, and Heiligenstadt.

ABOUT THE WORK
“Painting for me is like dancing, with body movements leaving traces.” These words describe the essential connection between movement and expression in Ilse Rex-Lenius’s work. She places particular emphasis on the line, which plays a central role for her. Graphic work is an addition and preparation for her paintings, which she views as an ongoing development of ideas and forms.

Since 2005, she has created “VerDichtungen” – books in which small drawings she has been collecting since 1985 are merged with her own words. These works are expressions of her continuous creative engagement with the world.

In addition to her artistic practice, teaching has been a constant part of her life. “Finding one’s own image of oneself and the world can be an adventure,” she says, and she enjoys guiding her students on this path with her knowledge.