Claus Rottenbacher studied engineering at the Technical University of Berlin. After receiving a doctoral scholarship from the German Research Foundation (DFG), he worked for several years as a business consultant and later as an independent entrepreneur. Since 2004, he has been working as a photographer on both independent artistic series and commissioned work. His commissioned work focuses on portrait photography of people and spaces. Claus Rottenbacher approaches his subjects with aesthetic respect, directing attention to remarkable details through his photographs. In his depictions of spaces, he chooses calm, orderly compositions, often creating stage-like glimpses—like miniature theaters on paper. His understated compositions allow the viewer’s gaze to explore everything that appears on these stages. His clear visual language and aesthetic probe the traditions of photography, from its invention through shifts in perspective, fragmentary views, and formal references to the Bauhaus era, extending to the powerful panoramas of today.
In his personal work, Claus Rottenbacher explores socio-political themes, such as power (Prostratio), the significance of European borders (Non Plus Ultra), and migration in the 21st century (Land of Promise). Subtle yet deeply resonant upon closer examination, his minimalist approach reveals underlying narratives. Since 2020, his focus has shifted towards abstract photography.
As an analog large-format photographer with a precise, artistic eye, Claus Rottenbacher has made a name for himself. His work is featured in prestigious collections, including the Berlinische Galerie, Museum Charlottenburg, the Stiftung Brandenburger Tor, and the Haubrock Foundation in Berlin.
