After 30 Years – The Cows Are Back!

At the very beginning of his art studies, Dieter Nusbaum created a now-legendary series of cow paintings. What began as an ordinary plein-air landscape session quickly turned into something quite different:

“I was outside with my easel and colors, ready to paint the landscape. I had just found my spot when I turned around — and suddenly there they were, a group of cows watching me closely. It was such a funny scene that I turned the easel around and painted them instead.”

Those spontaneous paintings became a sensation — everyone wanted one of the colorful cows. Thirty years later, to mark this special anniversary, Dieter returns to this joyful subject with a new, limited series of cow paintings — vibrant, bold, and full of character.

In these new works, the cows are more than just animals; they become expressive personalities. Their faces, painted in intense blues, yellows, and reds, reveal a playful mix of curiosity, calmness, and humor. The broad brushstrokes and dynamic contours give each figure a distinct energy — somewhere between abstraction and figuration. The background remains open and light, allowing the characters to step forward, confronting the viewer directly with their gaze.

These paintings celebrate simplicity and immediacy — an unfiltered encounter between artist, subject, and moment. Each cow seems to look out from the canvas with quiet self-awareness, bridging the gap between nature and human emotion.

The new Kühe series is now presented at the Overhead Showroom in Obersgegen — a cheerful homage to the beginnings of an artistic journey, reimagined with the freedom and confidence of a mature painter.