Jacob Runge (b. 1998, Schwerin) lives and works in Berlin.
His work explores emotional, physical, and societal in-between spaces. Painting has accompanied him since childhood, though it faded into the background during his teenage years. It wasn't until after completing his training in photography (2018–2020) and 3D design (until 2023) that he returned to painting—and fell in love with the medium all over again. Today, painting is not just a means of expression for him, but a way of thinking and feeling.

Runge creates art as a way to process what he sees, experiences, and feels.
He is particularly drawn to moments in which people are free—perhaps in ways that are often hidden in everyday life. Situations of ecstasy, desire, or detachment, which are frequently viewed with suspicion or judgment, are central to his work. These are the moments he seeks to depict—without judgment—simply because they exist.

His figures are faceless—not by coincidence, but by intention. For Runge, it’s not about who is seen, but what is seen. The figures could be anyone—or no one. This anonymity grants the images a sense of freedom, which he also wants to offer to the viewer.

Runge has never made art with the goal of achieving something specific. It simply happens.
He believes that what someone feels or thinks while viewing his work is beyond his control—and should remain that way. His paintings come without titles or explanations, as he doesn’t want to dictate how they should be interpreted. Every perspective is different—and that, to him, is exactly how it should be.