KATJA MÜLLER

Humanity is endlessly surprising. We are collaborative, adaptable, and capable of building worlds our ancestors would have considered magic. Our greatest strength has always been our ability to imagine futures that are not fixed, and then work together to shape them.

 

I believe art is one of the ways we do that. Art doesn’t just reflect who we are; it influences who we become. It has the power to normalize new ideas, open emotional space, and help people imagine themselves as active participants in the future rather than passive observers. Because of that, I feel a responsibility to make work that encourages a future worth choosing.

 

My art is not about catastrophe.

It is about possibility.

 

I make work that imagines things going well. Change is arriving faster than ever, technologically, socially, environmentally, and I see my work as a mirror. I hope that when people encounter it, they recognize themselves and the role they can play in shaping what comes next. The future is not guaranteed to be dark. It can be bright, meaningful, and humane, if we are intentional.

 

This does not mean ignoring humanity’s capacity for harm. We are capable of extraordinary cruelty as well as extraordinary care. Utopia and dystopia exist on a spectrum, and perfection is neither realistic nor honest. I am drawn instead to the idea of protopia: the belief that progress happens gradually, through effort, accountability, and continued care. Things improve not because they are flawless, but because we keep choosing better.

 

Much of today’s conversation frames technology as something to fear. I see it as a natural extension of human evolution. What matters is not whether we advance, but whether our ethical and humanitarian growth advances alongside our tools. Innovation should replace systems that no longer serve us, not simply reinforce them. When guided by care and responsibility, technology can expand access, creativity, and connection.

 

While Earth must remain our priority, I’m deeply inspired by space exploration and humanity’s expansion beyond our planet. To me, it represents a moment as significant as when life first moved from sea to land. The why is simple, curiosity is human nature. The how is where our values are revealed. My work often explores how we move forward carrying history with us, learning from our mistakes, and choosing kindness, curiosity, and art as we enter the next stage of our evolution.

 

Back on Earth, responsibility is unavoidable—especially when it comes to the environment. I’m interested in bio-art and functional design that contributes positively to ecosystems and human wellbeing. With a background in sustainable interior design and architecture, I’m drawn to materials, systems, and spaces that exist in symbiosis with nature. One long-term goal is to help create sustainable, affordable living spaces that prioritize mental health and a sense of peace, developed through collaboration across disciplines.

 

Community is essential to all of this. I believe an artist without community is only a fraction of who they could be.

 

I dedicate part of my time to teaching and working with children. I want young people to understand that there are many valid ways of being human, and that diversity is one of our greatest strengths. The problem is not difference, it is environments that fail to support it.

 

Sometimes this work takes the form of teaching.

Sometimes it is collaboration.

Sometimes it is simply making something honest.

 

This is who I am, and this is the role I hope to play.

 

— Katja