How An Artist Transformed Her Garden Into Her Creative Studio, And Vice Versa

Michaela Altweger

Photography by Mira Loew

Michaela Altweger is a self-taught artist based on the outskirts of Vienna, on the banks of the Danube river. She works with sculpture, painting and drawing. The mother of four has previously worked with costume design in children's theatre play productions as well as decorations and design for events. Her house and her garden are the two centrepieces of her artistic creation acting as both, artistic playground as well as space for hosting and holding family and friends.

My garden is a playground. An open-air studio, a place to experiment. A place to watch the wind move the different textures - within, to watch the play of light and shadow throughout the days and - seasons. It is a semi-public space for my art and my freedom.

Set back off the main road in a small suburban town about 20 minutes drive from Vienna, Michi’s house is surrounded by a big garden, filled with colourful wilderness and art. Passers-by often stop in awe, marvelling at this unusual sight. The house itself is covered in drawings of pink lily, which are somewhat hidden in the summer by the overgrowing Japanese ivy.

I grow the food I need in the summer: all sorts of tomatoes, pumpkins, courgette, salads, herbs, lavender, sage, rosemary, different types of basil and mint. Roses, tulips, dahlias, magnolias, crocus, peony, daffodils.

Inside the house, not a single wall is white. Paint is splattered all over the floors, the ceilings are continuations of paintings on fabric mounted on the walls. some areas are cluttered with small photographs of family and friends, congregations of memorabilia, slogans and short quotes are scribbled on the walls and furniture.

The house is belted by a make-shift patio, temporary structures created with wooden pallets connecting house and garden while also creating individual places. A sunrise spot. A hidden bench between the tomato plants. An afternoon sun spot sheltered between an oleander bush and the all-encompassing Japanese knotweed. A collection of places to linger.

My garden is also a source of relaxation and inspiration. Prepared and groomed wilderness. A place for exchange and a place for rest. Hills and patios, hanging and rocking chairs. A place to store found objects before they become sculptural material. A space to host family and friends.

In the centre of the garden is the ‘erdberg’, an artificially created hill, some chairs on it's top to enjoy the view from. A nearby pile of truck tires is the ‘berry pile’, home to strawberry plants, blackberries, raspberries. A wall of old computer screens extends on the side, with more berries and pumpkin plans sprawling all over. The whole garden is designed in a particular colour scheme. All shades of red, purple and pink flowers are spotted all over. A couple of big old rose bushes frame the main platform outside the kitchen area where the tomatoes, courgettes and herb plants live. Scattered around the whole garden are numerous sculptures. a tower of wires covered in old ties sticks out of a shopping trolley. Overgrown by ivy are some old display cabinet structures. 4containers frame the far corner of the garden.

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