Moritz Koch
Moritz Koch is a photo director whose work focuses on the medium of staged photography. As a Gen Z artist, Koch draws inspiration from visionary photographers such as Alex Prager and Tim Walker, as well as acclaimed filmmakers like Pablo Larraín and Pedro Almodóvar.
Koch approaches photography with an unparalleled level of precision and sophistication. His elaborate productions often involve months of meticulous planning, featuring dozens of vintage cars, countless props, intricate costumes, and up to 150 extras. These scenes, reminiscent of grand film sets, are not crafted for motion pictures, but for the singular purpose of creating one meticulously composed photograph. Every element is carefully orchestrated, leaving nothing to chance.
Koch’s storytelling narrative explores a wide range of contemporary issues, including social ideals, the fast pace of modern life, climate change, and digitalization. He also delves into a vision of the future that reflects the tension between utopia and dystopia. As with his creative process, the human experience remains central to his themes. His art grapples with existential questions surrounding the transience of life, the search for meaning, fate, and death, while also reflecting on interpersonal structures and conflicts.
Additionally, Koch’s aesthetic reflects a “post-futuristic” character, with nostalgic references to the Space Age and iconic figures like Jackie Kennedy. The influence of American photographer Gregory Crewdson, famous for his meticulously staged, surreal scenes, can also be seen in Koch’s detailed and theatrical approach to his art. Furthermore, his passion for fashion, automobiles, and architecture plays a significant role in shaping his visual style, as these interests are woven into his highly curated and symbolic imagery.
Koch (b. 2000) currently lives and works in Mainz, Germany.
| 2025 | Notes From Future, EXOgallery, Stuttgart, SOLO |
| 2024 | Nightmare in Paradise, Sight Gallery, Offenbach, SOLO Art Karlsruhe, represented by Sight Gallery |
| 2023 | Nightmare in Paradise, part of Berlin Art Week, Nüüd, Berlin SOLO Art Poistions 23, Sight Gallery, Offenbach |
| 2022 | Werke von Moritz Koch, Stadtgalerie Rodgau, SOLO |
| 2021 | The Wake-up Call, Stadtgalerie Neu Isenburg, SOLO |
| 2019 | The Wake-up Call 2, Galerie im Rathaus, Mainz, SOLO |
| 2017 | The Wake Up Call, Ortsverwaltung, Mainz, SOLO |
| 2024 | Laureate of the Culture Prize by Arnim Nagel Foundation |
Nightmare in Paradise
Project Statement
In his latest photo series, “NIGHTMARE IN PARADISE,” Moritz Koch explores the relationship between emotion and reason, examining how these opposing forces shape human experience.
In the series Koch studies the tension between instinct and intellect, while raising critical questions about the role of art in evoking and preserving the emotional states that define our existence. Koch’s work navigates the complexities of human mood, investigating which artistic practices have the power to capture fleeting emotions and give them permanence.
Through a carefully staged, dreamlike world, Koch constructs narratives that blend surrealism with reality, reflecting on the fragile balance between paradise and nightmare. His imagery is laden with symbolism, combining nostalgic references with contemporary concerns, creating a space where utopia and dystopia coexist. As with much of his oeuvre, the human condition remains central, with each meticulously composed scene challenging viewers to consider how emotion, memory, and reason intersect in the creation of both personal and collective experiences.
Photography will always be a magical medium for me; how the one moment captured came about and what will happen afterwards is always an invitation to our imagination.
