white_slice: An Interview with Dr. Katrin Stowasser

white_slice is neither a gallery, nor a museum, nor an artist-run space, and certainly not a slice of toast. It’s a window in Zurich’s lively Kreis 4 district, transformed into a platform for emerging artists to present their work and engage directly with a diverse urban audience.

Located at the corner of Pflanzschulstrasse 77 and Stauffacherstrasse, the initiative aims to create an accessible entry point to contemporary art and is founded by art historian Dr. Katrin Stowasser and brand designer Heike Brockmann.

In this interview, Katrin Stowasser shares the story behind white_slice, its vision of connecting art and society, and her hopes for the project’s future.

On view now:

Agnes Freyja Björnsdóttir

Camille Lotjens

Olena Iegorova: Dear Katrin, I’ve been really looking forward to learning more about white_slice. Please tell us how you came up with the idea and how you define it as a public art project.

Katrin Stowasser: I might start with my professional background. Working at an art university, I interact a lot with students, and we always notice a gap between the educational process and what happens after university. Students often aren’t prepared to make a living directly from their profession, their passion, or their education. It was important for me to create something that combined my expertise, network, and passion for art, culture, and society in an experimental way. I wanted to help young artists get in touch with galleries, clients, and people interested in art. At the same time, I wanted to educate society about the importance of art and culture for a safe and balanced society.

In my private social circle, I know many people who are interested in art but feel intimidated—they don’t know how to approach galleries or artists. They often feel that they aren’t “educated enough” for art and culture. I wanted to bring people together  and make art accessible. That was the main idea.

Olena Iegorova: I love that concept, making art more approachable for everyone. How did you actually take that idea and transform it into white_slice?

Katrin Stowasser: I have a good friend, a digital brand designer and web designer, who also shares an interest in art and social topics. We often talked about how to situate art more broadly in society. She told me about her office in Kreis 4, Zurich, which has big ground-floor windows facing the street. People often stop to look in the window, even at small objects like Playmobil figures or postcards. Some even come inside to ask about what they saw.

We thought, why not use this window to show art? This would allow young artists to display their work and connect with the public, gallerists, or anyone interested. That’s how we began.

Olena Iegorova: Beautiful mission. And the name! There is a story behind the wording of white_slice, right?

Katrin Stowasser: That’s right! The window isn’t meant to be a white cube, it’s just a small slice of a room. Its white frame highlights a glimpse of the artist’s work, usually just one or two pieces. That’s how white_slice came about. This name reflects both the literal and conceptual nature of the project: a small, approachable portion of space where art can be seen and experienced without the formality or intimidation of a big gallery. Yet, rather than competing with traditional exhibition spaces, we aim to offer an intimate, inviting environment where artists can share their work and audiences can engage with it up close, experiencing a “slice” of the artist’s world.

Olena Iegorova: I am sure the readers would also be curious to know how the project operates. Tell us more about this please.

Katrin Stowasser: We provide this window for three months, during which we organize one or two events with specific themes, inviting both people from the street and our network. The idea is to create a hybrid format: the window acts as a public artwork, but we also activate the space for dialogue and interaction. Yet, most of the time, art is visible in the window, accessible to everyone. This is the initial idea and public art side of it.

Olena Iegorova: I see, so it’s both public display and interactive space. What about the current exhibition, what’s it about? It is your first show, as far as I know. Congratulations!

Katrin Stowasser: Thank you! Yes, our first exhibition is called Energy Around. We have two artists this time. Camille Lotjens has a painting titled Energy for Everything, and Agnes Freyja Björnsdóttir works with light switches and plugs, which also symbolize energy. Through their work, the artists examine how energy is sometimes missing in both society and everyday life. The show reflects the power of art to replenish that energy, offering joy, vitality, and a sense of connection that is essential for a healthy and balanced society.

Olena Iegorova: I agree. How do you see white_slice fitting into the larger art scene, especially in these generally uncertain times for the art ecosystem?

Katrin Stowasser: Good question. The big artist’s names make the headlines, but the art ecosystem is much broader. Young and emerging artists, being the driving force of this ecosystem, often lack visibility and opportunities to connect directly with audiences. So, white_slice is a complementary platform and a semi-public space for them to share their work and interact with people outside traditional exhibition settings.

I like to recall a scene from Robert Seethaler’s Der Trafikant: the young apprentice Franz, following advice to record his dreams, pins his notes to the kiosk window of the tobacconist where he works. Passers‑by pause, read, smile or ponder. By making his private reflections public, he transforms a personal practice into an open dialogue - an act that resonates with the idea of white_slice, where even a single viewer stopping to reflect marks the project’s quiet success.

Olena Iegorova: I really like how the story resonates with white_slice’s philosophy. It shows how small gestures are meaningful. Looking ahead, what are your plans for white_slice, and how will you choose future artists?

Katrin Stowasser: We plan to continue and make the project more professional by hiring a young curator to help select artists and develop exhibition themes. Our focus remains on young artists, not by age, but by where they are in their journey. Diploma shows are one great way to find new talent, but there’s so much more out there. For instance, launching an open call might help us attract diverse new talents.

Regarding the future plans, we aim to open white_slice to other artistic disciplines such as digital works, light, video, and design. Music may be more difficult to integrate, but our goal is to keep the platform open, inclusive, and evolving.

Olena Iegorova: It sounds like a project with huge potential, and I bet the artists find it just as exciting as we do hearing about it.

Katrin Stowasser: It is small but meaningful. The democratic format, the visibility for artists, and the direct interaction with the public are what make it valuable. Art is a learning field - not just for the audience but for artists as well. They learn how to present their practice, communicate with the public, and understand the challenges of connecting art with society. In a way, white_slice is a playground.

Olena Iegorova: What a great metaphor. Thank you for sharing your insights. It’s truly inspiring to hear about white_slice and your vision for its future. I’m happy to meet people whose values align so closely with those of [site-specific].

Katrin Stowasser: Thank you, likewise! I’m grateful for the conversation and always happy to share ideas and visions about art and its impact.