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Traudl Brunnquell
Traudl Brunnquell was a designer and artist who became known for her vibrantly colored lamps.
Her marriage to the Thuringian entrepreneur Karl-Heinz Brunnquell opened unexpected new avenues for Traudl Brunnquell. The lighting division of her husband’s company—which had previously been rather practical, specializing in the manufacture of electronic equipment—caught her interest. The brightly colored glazes of her works marked a new era. From small bedside lamps with handles, stackable light cubes to impressive patio lamps, she explored the possibilities of ceramics. Rising prices and changing consumer behavior in the 1980s were also reflected in her designs. The clean design language of her early work was increasingly lost amid trendy gimmicks. Brunnquell’s design concepts remain appealing to this day.
Traudl Brunnquell (1919–2010), Wand-, Decken- oder Spiegelleuchte Nr. 4208, grün (Wall, Ceiling or Mirror Lamp No. 4208, green), 1978, stoneware, E27 fitting, 27.5 × 20 × 14 cm, © Foundation for Concrete Art and Design, 2019; Photo: Museum für Konkrete Kunst und Design, Hubert P. Klotzeck
Traudl Brunnquell (1919–2010), Stehlampe Nr. 15 068.1, gelb (Floor Lamp No. 15 068.1, yellow), 1972, porcelain, E27 fitting, screw-thread glass shade, total height 64 cm, © Foundation for Concrete Art and Design, 2019; Photo: Museum für Konkrete Kunst und Design, Hubert P. Klotzeck
Biography
1929
Born in Munich
1933/34
Trained as a technical draftsman
1945
Married entrepreneur Karl-Heinz Brunnquell (1913–1998); moved to Thuringia; began working at the company Brunnquell
1948
Re-establishment of Brunnquell in Ingolstadt after the company’s facilities in Thuringia were nationalized by the Soviet occupation forces
1961–1979
Head of the design department at Brunnquell
1977
Awarded the “Die gute Industrieform” prize
1978
Opened a lighting store in Tel Aviv, Israel
1980
Turned to painting
2010
Died in Ingolstadt
2017
Inducted into the SKKD
Past exhibitions at the MKKD
2026
Becoming MKKD. On Planning and Creating a Museum (group exhibition)
2022
Becoming MKKD. Vom Planen und Entstehen eines Museums
2019
Brunnquell: Lamp Design from Ingolstadt