CV

Austrian artist Fiona Hernuss (b. 1970, Vienna) combines classical painting techniques with a bold, graphic aesthetic. Her vividly colored, often large-scale compositions are defined by strong frontality, evoking elements of Pop Art while maintaining a timeless depth. Her stylized emus, a recurring motif in her work, symbolize transformation, resilience, and the overcoming of limitations.

Hernuss earned an MFA in Classical Painting from the New York Academy of Art and a BFA in Communication Design from Parsons School of Design in Paris and New York. Her artistic approach is deeply influenced by early encounters with the Old Masters, Expressionism, and Naturalism. Extended creative periods in France, the United States, Germany, and Portugal have further refined her visual language. Today, she lives and works in Vienna.

Hernuss’ art explores vulnerability—not as a state of weakness, but as a source of transformation and inner strength. Her work translates emotional and societal themes into striking visual statements. The emus act as icebreakers, evoking spontaneous reactions and creating an unexpected connection between the viewer and the painting.

Animals usually play the leading roles in Fiona Hernuss' works. For Hernuss, they deliberately soften the sharp-edged blows that human reality sometimes deals out. With their help, Hernuss defuses, observes and comments in a visually appealing way. In this way, she gains the necessary distance from the subject, which in turn allows her to get as close to the subject as possible.

Hernuss thus maintains a connection with the viewer, who might otherwise have turned away from many an unpleasant topic - always with the hope of broadening horizons for the viewer.

The Emu

The emu is a central motif in Fiona Hernuss’ work—what began as an unexpected encounter evolved into a symbol of orientation and growth: “The emu grounds me, keeps me steady, and gives me artistic confidence. I grow with it, and it grows with me.”

Her stylized emus, with their striking presence and piercing gaze, are more than mere images—they act as icebreakers, often sparking spontaneous joy, laughter, and positive energy. Their bold, dynamic nature shifts perception and invites an immediate, transformative experience. Much like the therapeutic technique of pattern interruption, they break habitual ways of seeing, dissolve inner barriers, and open a space for connection, strength, and new perspectives.

The speaking voice

In 2023, Fiona Hernuss has completed her professional speaker/voiceover training (with high honors). She has thus dedicated herself to another talent of hers - her eloquent and soothing speaking voice.

Audio samples and bookable at: https://gosh.at/speakers/fiona...

Audio samples: https://www.sprecherverband.at...

Art Education

1998: MASTER OF FINE ARTS | MFA | Malerei | New York Academy of Art | New York, NY, USA
1995: BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS | BFA | Parsons School of Design | Kommunikations Design | Paris, FRA und New York, NY, USA

Memberships

2024: VOICE Sprecherverband | Guild of Announcers and Voice Artists | A-1230 Vienna, AT
2020: KÜNSTLERHAUS | Karlsplatz 5 | 1010 Wien, AT ordentliches Mitglied
2018: Berufsvereinigung bildender Künstler Österreichs | Schloss Schönbrunn | Ovalstiege | 1130 Wien, AT | ordentliches Mitglied

Continuing Education

2023: Professionally trained and certified announcer/speaker for Radio & TV
2016: Sotheby’s Instutute of Art | Art as a Global Business | Dynamics of the Art Market

Exhibitions | Art Auctions

2025: Galerie Otto Buchinger | Linz | 13. March
2025: Walentowskigalerien Deutschland und AT | Group shows
2025: Herzkunst Salzburg | 14. Feb.
2024: 3.10.2024 - Grand opening and presentation Meeting Suites by bene
2024: 24. neunerhaus Kunstauktion am 4. November im MAK
2024: St. Elisabeth-Stiftung
2023: Art for Children | art auction | featuring my work "HAM KUMMST" | ALBERTINA MUSEUM | powered by DOROTHEUM WIEN | 14. November 2023
2023: 23. NEUNERHAUS ART AUCTION | featuring my work: "MAGNUS" | MAK Museum for Applied Arts | Wien, AT | 6. November 2023
2023: represented artist at Galerie Buchinger | Linz, AT
2023: Walentowski Galerien | Werl, Salzburg, Kitzbühel, Konstanz, Baden-Baden
2023: Tierschutz Austria artauction powered by Loys Egg und Herbert Brandl - Dorotheum Wien
2022: MAK Museum für angewandte Kunst, WIen, AT | neunerhaus Kunstauktion | 7. November 2022
2022: Albertina Museum | Kunstauktion | Auf Augenhöhe in Wien, AT | 3. November 2022
2022: Walentowski Galerien | Salzburg, Kitzbühel, Konstanz, Baden-Baden
2022: Ab ca. Juni: in allen Nägele & Strubell Filialen: EMU "Yves Saint Laurent" bei KUNST & SCHÖNHEIT Raum für Kommunikation über Kunst und Schönheit | in allen Filialen | AT
2022: Galerie Artrium | AT
2021: Save the date: 30.09.2021 | Auf Augenhöhe in Wien, AT | Albertina Museum | Kunstauktion
2021: Save the date: 16.10.2021 | Salvatorianer in Wien, AT | Michaelerkirche | Kunstauktion
2021: Save the date: 20.10.2021 | OÖ Tafel in Wels, AT | Kunstauktion | Obdachlosenhilfe |
2021: April Ausstellung | WALENTOWSKI GALERIEN SALZBURG, AT
2020: ALBERTINA MUSEUM | art auction | DOROTHEUM für „Auf Augenhöhe“ | Wien, AUT
2020: SALVATORIANER Kunstauktion | Online art auction DOROTHEUM | Wien, AT | 07.10.2020
2020: NEUNERHAUS KUNSTAUKTION | MAK Museum for Applied Arts | Auktionshaus im Kinsky | Wien, AT | 02.11.2020
2020: VOLKSHILFE | art auction | Sothebys | Wien, AT
2020: ART FOR A BETTER WORLD | Kunst für den Klimaschutz | Salzburg, AT
2019: Art auction „Auf Augenhöhe“ | ALBERTINA | Dorotheum | Wien, AT
2019: VOLKSHILFE art auction | SOTHEBYS | Wien, AT
2019: NEUNERHAUS art auction | MAK | im Kinsky | Wien, AT
2019: SALVATORIANER art auction | Wien, AT
2019: WIENER TIERSCHUTVEREIN art auction powered by Loys Egg, Herbert Brandl und DOROTHEUM | DOROTHEUM | Wien, AT
2018: NEUNERHAUS art auction | MAK | Auktionshaus Im KINSKY | Wien, AT
2018: VOLKSHILFE art auction | Wien, AT
2018: WE HELP YOU art auction | Wien, AT
2018: SALVATORIANER art auction | Wien, AT
2018: LEARN-FOR-LIFE art auction and concert | Wien, AT
2018: FAIR FOR ART | Wien, AT
2018: STROKE Art Fair | München, DE
2018: ART CANNES | Cannes, FR
2018: ART AUSTRIA - Gartenpalais Liechtenstein | Wien, AT
2018: WIKAM - Palais Niederösterreich | Wien, AT
2018: ART KARLSRUHE | GER
2018: CLUB ALPHA - FünfxFreiheit | Wien, AT
2018: ART Innsbruck | Innsbruck, AT
2017: LUXEMBOURG ART FAIR | Luxembourg, LU
2017: WE HELP YOU - art auction - Palais Schönborn | Wien, AT
2017: STROKE ART FAIR | München, DE
2017: ART ZÜRICH | Zürich, CH
2017: SINGLE FARE 4 | New York, NY, USA
2017: ART BODENSEE | Bodensee, AT
2017: RHY ART FAIR | Basel, CH
2017: ART SALZBURG | Salzburg, AT
2017: TROUBLED WATER im Wasserturm - BBKÖ | Wien, AT
2017: Mother and Child - Galleria La Pigna, Palazzo Pontificio Maffei Marescotti | Rom, IT
2016: ART INNSBRUCK | Innsbruck, AT
2016: WE HELP YOU | Zürich, CH
2016: PICTURING THE UNPRINTABLE - Flux Factory | Long Island, NY, USA
2015: 139th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show- Madison Square Garden | New York, NY, USA
2014: SHARKMANIA | Naturhistorisches Museum |Wien, AT
2014: PU Show | Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia | Atlanta, Georgia, USA
2014: Take Home a Nude | art auction Sotheby’s | New York, USA
2010: On a Blind Date With Art | Med and More International, Vienna, Austria
2008: 3 Person Exhibition - WGL | Wien, AT
2006: CRUCIFIXIONS | Sculpture / Installation - Artknallhart | Oldenburg, DE
2001: STALLKUNST Sterntalerhof | Oldenburg, DE
1998: Diploma Project Exhibition | Tribecca Hall Gallery | New York Academy of Art | New York, USA

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CV