In his book "The Museum of Shapes", Völker explores the world of abstract art and takes a close look at all kind of shapes and forms. "A Million Dots" is a New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books Winner. It starts with a single tree and by doubling the numbers on each page reaches more than a million within 44 pages. A book about the magic and poetry of math and exponential growth. "L'altra metá" takes the opposite route, here colorful animals share one bread until the surprising end.
Together with Singer Sting, Völker has released his first picture book in 2015 at NordSüd Publishers. In "There is a little black spot on the sun today", his bright illustrations transform Sting’s evocative lyrics from the song "King of Pain" into a minimalistic children’s book that explores pain's sadness, beauty and wonder.
His book "Are We There Yet" about a bear and a butterfly and their great journey is a story about friendship, patience and the cycles of being. Published by Cicada Books, London.
"The Piano" is a minimal picturebook that turns the 88 black and white keys of a broken grand piano into a universe of animals. A surprising book like a roller coaster full of sounds and noises.
Brandeins Magazine
Sven Völker is Professor for Experiment and Strategy in Graphic Design at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam. He studied at the University of the Arts in Bremen and received an master's degree from Middlesex University in London. In 2004 he was appointed Professor of Graphic Design at the Hochschule für Gestaltung in Karlsruhe and since 2010 taught at Burg Giebichenstein University of Art in Halle.
Since 2015, Sven Völker has been focusing on picture book art as an author and illustrator. His books have been translated into many languages and have received numerous awards. But before turning his attention to the world of picture books and art, Völker worked as a designer for many years. With his small and unconventional Berlin-based studio he designed the award-winning corporate identity for the Japanese Suzuki Motor Corporation and other clients. Even then, he was known for combining graphic symbols, colour, form and typography in a playful and modular way.
In his recent art projects he transfers his visual approach from his picture books into the fields of painting, sculpture, installations and even onto the stage. For the State Opera in Halle/Saale, he created the stage design for the novel symphony "The Trumpet of the Swan" by E.B. White. His large-scale light and print installations traveled to exhibitions in Norway, Prague, Basel and Bern. In the context of his picture books, he often creates artistic installations that blur the boundaries between literature, illustration, and art.
He is the author of books on design, including: "Go Faster", a book about the graphic design of racing cars published by Gestalten and "Der Welt über die Straße helfen" - written and edited together with German philosopher Peter Sloterdijk in 2010.
At Potsdam University of Applied Sciences, he runs the "Picture Book Lab", where his students develop, write, illustrate and design picture books.
Contact
Sven Völker Studio: studio(at)svenvoelker.com
Literary Agent: Roofmusic: Kristine Meierling
University: University of Applied Sciences Potsdam and: Some Magazine
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Deutschlandradio Kultur
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
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