Painting the Movement — Capturing Grace on Canvas

Leo Stopfer is a contemporary Austrian artist renowned for his striking portraits and compelling ballet paintings. Born in 1964 in Tulln an der Donau, Austria, Stopfer began applying himself to the artistic craft at an early age – he had held his first exhibition near Vienna by the age of 18 which attracted the attention of local media, in turn, convincing him of the path he had chosen. Aware of the speculative nature of life as an artist, he gained a technical education while continuing to develop his craft independently. His guiding belief – “I was created to create” – has remained the driving force behind his fervent exploration of technique and emotion.

From oil and acrylic to mixed media incorporating natural elements such as sand and stone, Leo’s work encompasses a variety of styles and media. He has long been inspired by artists such as Picasso, Rodin, and Monet, combining classical influences with his own visionary approach. Known for his realistic nudes and expressive portraits, Stopfer often uses live model body prints to create a physical and emotional imprint of his subjects on the canvas – a homage to Yves Klein’s legacy, although with a signature colour scheme of red, orange, white, and black.

After attending the Vienna State Opera’s Bella Figura premiere in 2011, Stopfer focused his lens on ballet with a new artistic mission: to capture the transient energy of dance as enduring works of art. Working closely with world-class dancers, he not only creates snapshots of balletic elegance, but also collaborative pieces that accommodate dancers’ movements directly onto the canvas.

Career highlights include a major solo exhibition at the Vienna State Opera during its 150th anniversary (2019-2020), while a year earlier, in 2018, with his exhibition My Muses, Stopfer became the first and only artist invited by the Klimt Villa directorate to work in Gustav Klimt’s original studio – 100 years after Klimt’s death. A few months later, in May 2018, he held a solo exhibition at the Klimt Villa, now a museum. The museum is based on Klimt’s former studio (Atelier), although the building itself was expanded after his death.

Today, Leo Stopfer continues to paint the movement, working with ballet stars such as Ludmila Pagliero, Olga Smirnova, and Diana Vishneva. Dance is an expression of both beauty and truth in his art – taking those fleeting moments the naked eye follows on the stage, and giving us the perfect still of timeless human grace.