Monika Mayer: Full Circle
August 29 – October 4, 2025
- Artists’ Reception: Saturday, August 30, 3 – 5 pm
- Artists’ Talks: Saturday, September 13, 3 – 5 pm
- Oakland Art Murmur / First Friday: September 5, October 3, 5 – 9 pm
Full Circle grew out of a deeply personal time of uncertainty, loss, and healing. While facing complex health challenges, Monika Mayer started a daily art practice that became an important creative outlet – a space for reflection, meditation, and a way to express what words could not. Around the same time, her son, a Division 1 soccer player, faced a career-ending injury, and both of her parents-in-law passed away. These events led her to explore themes of identity, transformation, and healing. Inspired by nature and her own experiences, Mayer’s work encompasses painting, fiber sculpture, felting, printmaking, and mixed media. She uses discarded objects and materials, giving new life to inner tubes, soccer balls, and plastic bags. This act of transformation mirrors her emotional and physical metamorphosis. Circles and repeating patterns suggest growth and the natural rhythms of life. By presenting familiar materials in unfamiliar ways, Mayer invites viewers into a space of ambiguity—encouraging them to pause, look closely, and consider what lies beneath the surface.
Gallery
Available Work
Monika Mayer
Monika Mayer is a multidisciplinary artist born in Germany and based in Berkeley, CA. Largely self-taught, she began developing a daily art practice during the COVID-19 lockdown, allowing her to deepen her focus and commitment. She holds a BA in Social Education from the University of Applied Sciences in Cologne, Germany and a MA in Educational Leadership from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. Mayer has been a member of Mercury 20 Gallery since 2023, and is an alumna of the Kala Artist-in-Residency program in Berkeley, CA. Her work is held in private collections in the U.S. and Germany and has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including at Tryst International Art Fair in Los Angeles, Kala Art Gallery, and in the UK as a shortlisted artist for the International Football Art Prize.