Anika Nixdorf is a German-English multidisciplinary artist based in Devon, UK. Self-taught, she works with an intuitive, automatic approach, creating surreal, dreamlike works that blend personal mythology, symbolism, and metaphor. Central to her practice is an exploration of the inner landscape, where themes of transformation, spirituality, and the feminine emerge in vivid, symbolic forms.

 

After completing an MA in Animation and a foundation in Art Psychotherapy at IATE in London, Nixdorf developed a practice rooted in psychological exploration and personal insight. Art psychotherapy continues to shape her work, offering a means to engage with the subconscious and unlock deeper layers of meaning.

 

From an early age, Nixdorf was driven to create, painting her inner world long before understanding its complexity. Her creative journey was further shaped by Shamanic practices from indigenous cultures in North and South America, which led her to explore her own European roots, including German/English and Scandinavian ancestry. She believes that connecting with these roots is an essential practice for living in these troubled times.

 

Influenced by artists such as Hilma af Klint, Louise Bourgeois, and Magdalena Abakanowicz, Nixdorf's work shares a focus on the symbolic, the organic, and the transformative. Themes of grounding and spiritual expansion are central to her practice, often symbolised through root systems that represent both a deep connection to the earth and the search for higher vibrational ways of being. Her art spans the spectrum of human experience, inviting viewers into a realm where the earthly and the ethereal coexist.

 

Working primarily with watercolour and ink, cyanotypes, and occasionally sewing and weaving, Nixdorf experiments with a range of media. In 2024, she focused on learning ceramics and is passionate about developing this craft as a new avenue for creative exploration.