Michaela Maria Hintermayr is a talented painter, video artist, and photographer based in Vienna. After starting her career in a big publishing house, Michaela transitioned to freelance art following a life-changing illness in 2012. In this interview, she shares how a severe disease in 2012 ignited her passion for painting, leading her to explore powerful themes like mental health, trauma, and intense emotions in her work. Through her art, Michaela invites us to explore the hidden aspects of our minds and accept the complexities of life. Let us learn about her creative journey, the emotions behind her creations, and her recent venture into videography.

Michaela Maria Hintermayr is a Vienna painter, video artist, and photographer. After graduating with a Media Design and Technology degree from the Graphische College (Vienna), she began her career in a big publishing house. After this stint, she started creating art freelance, especially photography. Her photos were published in various magazines, such as the Docu Book and Magazine. Her painting journey began after a severe illness in 2012. She likes to express herself via acrylic colours and mixed media. Videography has become a new passion for her in the last few years.

In her artistic work, she explores subjects such as mental health, trauma, and intense, often difficult, labeled emotions. She is deeply interested in the ephemeral and unconscious states of the mind. What lies beneath the very visible and rational? How can we grow and accept the ever-shifting quality of life? And how can we embrace every minute of our existence?

1. Michaela, your shift from Media Design to freelance art is inspiring. What made you take that leap, and how has it changed how you create art?

I felt like I was wasting my time and that I wanted to do something that truly inspires me and makes my heart sing.

I think many people are hurting how our lives are designed today and that we miss deep connections, mindfulness, and content

Michaela Maria Hintermayr

2. You started painting after going through a severe illness in 2012. How did that experience shape your art and the themes you focus on?

This break in my life made me turn to art even more intensively and made me brave but also more vulnerable. Regarding my themes, I turned to very expressionist and emotional themes like spitting it all out, everything that once held me back.

3. Your work often explores mental health, trauma, and intense emotions. What draws you to these subjects, and what do you hope people feel when they see your art?

I think many people are hurting how our lives are designed today and that we miss deep connections, mindfulness, and content. I hope my art motivates people to explore their emotions and value them as important messengers. Furthermore, I’d be happy to spark a sense of self-awareness and compassion in people.

4. You’ve recently gotten into videography. How does working with video feel different from painting and photography, and what stories do you want to tell with it?

Obviously, it does something to people. I was deeply moved when several people teared up after watching my work. So there appears to be an intensity and immediacy that other art forms sometimes lack. I enjoy the combination of visuals, music, and lyrics; this multi-dimensionality opens new channels. This is especially true for complex subjects like mental health and trauma.

I hope my art motivates people to explore their emotions and value them as important messengers.

Michaela Maria Hintermayr

5.  In your art, you explore deep and unconscious parts of the mind. Can you tell us about a piece that shows these themes and what you wanted to express?

In “A Tale of Trauma,” I explore the buried feelings of traumatic experience. I wish to express that these raw and often very painful emotions are nothing to be ashamed of but the core of what happened to us. And that there is hope in facing these difficult emotions.

Michaela Maria Hintermayr’s journey shows how art can help us heal and understand our deepest feelings. Her paintings, photos, and videos are full of emotional depth and honesty, inviting us to face our own emotions and the complexities of life. Michaela’s work continues to inspire, helping people connect with their inner selves and fostering a greater understanding of mental health. To learn more about Michaela Maria Hintermayr, click the following links to visit her profile.