08/05/2026
Karoline Rosskopf was born in Austria in 1911. She was one of the few female artists working in Leo Navratil's era at Gugging, and she left behind only a small body of work. Cephalopods. Cat people. Her signature headfooter figures, genderless beings assembled from geometric forms, with distinctively stylised hair, fingers, and toes. An abstract reduction of form that feels entirely her own.
Her works are held in the Collection de l'Art Brut in Switzerland, the Lentos Art Museum, and the Hannah Rieger Collection. And yet she has historically been largely unknown. Part of the reason is practical: at the time of creation, her works were not well documented. Verifying a Rosskopf is not a simple matter. When one is confirmed, it is a significant moment.
You may recognise the headfooter figure from Oswald Tschirtner, the most celebrated artist associated with this form. Rosskopf arrived at something similar and entirely distinct. Her lines are drawn in pencil, with subtle undulations and variations in pressure. The compositions feel weightless yet grounded, balanced and full of tension. There is nothing accidental in them.
Today we are presenting three verified works by Karoline Rosskopf, each with a certificate of authenticity. For collectors of Art Brut, and especially for those drawn to the founding era of Gugging, this is not a moment to pass over.
Available now in our online shop, and in person at the gallery.
https://shop.galeriegugging.com/collections/karoline-rosskopf?
