Marie-Jo Lafontaine was one of the most influential European artists of her generation. Throughout a career spanning more than four decades, she developed a distinctive artistic practice that combined video, photography, textiles, sculpture, and large-scale installations. Her work explored themes of memory, identity, power, and human emotion, earning her international recognition and a prominent place in contemporary art history.

Lafontaine was closely connected to HfG Karlsruhe from the very beginning of the institution. She joined the university as a professor in 1992 and played an important role during its formative years. Through her artistic vision, international perspective, and commitment to teaching, she inspired generations of students and contributed significantly to the development of the university’s interdisciplinary profile.

Her relationship with Karlsruhe also extended to the ZKM | Center for Art and Media, where her works were presented from the early 1990s onward. Several of her works remain part of the ZKM collection today.

With the passing of Marie-Jo Lafontaine, the international art community loses an outstanding artist, and HfG Karlsruhe loses a valued colleague who helped shape the university during its early years.

Our thoughts are with her family, friends, former students, and all those whose lives and work she touched.

Photo: © Marie-Jo Lafontaine, source: marie-jo-lafontaine.com