The Medium and the Message Words become images—writing, drawings, designs. For around twenty years Stefan Marx has been studying script. Lines of songs, sayings, sentences, and quotations, which he then translates in his own script, his graphic writing, into paintings or drawings—two-dimensional surfaces. The poetry of the statements and the painterly quality of the execution combine to form strong works of art. Marx develops each of his pieces with great precision for the specific situation, for the individual work of art, regardless of whether it is an edition, a unique work, a house, or a small invitation card. This is the first book about his Word Paintings in their many varieties and in all media. Essays explain Marx’s drawing, printmaking, and painting, as well as his unique interplay of art and pop culture, sign and life.



STEFAN MARX (*1979, Schwalmstadt) is an artist, a skateboarder, and a cultural philosopher. He published artist’s books through his own publishing company, designs record covers for various labels, and exhibits his works at art book fairs and galleries. His work has been seen in many international exhibitions, as well as in his graphic designs for programs and labels. In August 2019 his drawing column appeared daily in the New York Times.