She was more than a textile designer— Léna Meyer-Bergner was a force for education and for social change. While her husband, Hannes Meyer, is often remembered as the Bauhaus’ second director, Lena’s groundbreaking work in design, pedagogy, and social transformation is finally stepping into the spotlight.
In this episode, I sat down with two leading art historians – Sandra Neugärtner and Viridiana Zavala – to explore the unknown story of Léna Meyer-Bergner. From her studies at the Bauhaus to her visionary approach to modernism in the Soviet Union and on to her graphic talent in exile in Mexico, we explore how her work evolved.
🎧 Listen now and discover why Léna Meyer-Bergner deserves a place at the center of Bauhaus history.
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MAX BILL | Angela Thomas & Erich Schmid
In dieser Bonusfolge mit Angela Thomas (Kunsthistorikerin und Bill-Wittwe) und Erich Schmid (Journalist und Filmemacher) tauchen wir ein in das faszinierende Leben von Max Bill – einem der prägendsten Köpfe der Konkreten Kunst und Mitbegründer der HfG Ulm. Und das Ganze ausnahmsweise auf Deutsch!
Jetzt reinhören in 1h50 voller spannender Insights, Anekdoten und Bonusmaterial, das es nicht in die englische Folge geschafft hat!
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HfG ULM | Martin Mäntele
In this bonus episode you will hear the original interview with Martin Mäntele, head of the HfG Ulm Archive, and bauhaus faces.
Discover how Max Bill played a central role in the founding and first years of the HfG Ulm, the Ulm School of Design – and how it evolved without him. And join us as we discuss the design icons of the HfG: the Ulm stool, the Braun radio ‘Snow White's Coffin’ and the stackable TC 100 tableware. And so much more ...
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MAX BILL | Angela Thomas, Erich Schmid & Martin Mäntele
For this brand-new episode, I travelled to Zumikon to visit Angela Thomas and Erich Schmid in their house - the Bill Haus. This house, which looks somehow unremarkable from the outside but is amazingly light, open, and welcoming and on the inside, was built by the Swiss architect and designer Max Bill in 1967–68. His second wife and widow, Angela Thomas, lives there today with her husband, the filmmaker Erich Schmid, who made a film about Bill entitled “Max Bill – Das absolute Augenmaß/The master's vision”.
Max Bill established himself in art history as the architect and first director of the Hochschule für Gestaltung in Ulm, also known as HfG Ulm or Ulm School of Design. And that is exactly the reason why I also interviewed the head of the HfG Ulm archive, Martin Mäntele, regarding all questions around the official successor of the Bauhaus. Because that is what Bill intended to do in Ulm – to continue the Bauhaus as if it had never been closed in 1933. And he had Walter Gropius’s blessing, too, and the financial support by the Americans.
LOOK OUT FOR 2 BONUS EPISODES with the original Interviews that will be published in the next 2 weeks!
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PAUL KLEE | Fabienne Eggelhöfer
Did you know that in his final year alone, Klee created 1,253 works? A cornerstone of Bauhaus art, Klee’s influence is undeniable, but his story begins much earlier. From aspiring musician following his family’s footsteps to the painter who “discovered color” in Tunisia, his artistic journey is nothing short of remarkable. His tenure at the then-young Bauhaus alongside legends like Wassily Kandinsky helped shape generations of artists, despite the challenges of balancing teaching and creating.
This episode offers an exclusive insider look into the man behind the art, his teaching legacy, and why understanding Klee’s story changes how we see his work today. Don’t miss this deep dive into one of the Bauhaus movement’s brightest stars.
Hit play now and subscribe for more stories that bring art history to life!
Meet the faces behind the vision!
With the help of Bauhaus experts and descendants, each episode tells the story of a new personality.
With Paul Klee, Max Bill, Gunta Stölzl, Lucia Moholy, Mies van der Rohe, Ise Gropius, Lucia Moholy, Anni & Josef Albers, Otti Berger & more ...
Netherlands