Ken Wiatrek

Ken Wiatrek, also known as kenconsumer, is an American artist, curator, and cultural organizer based in Berlin. He earned his art degrees in the mid-1990s before entering the anime industry, where he served as Director of Marketing at ADV Films and played a key role in bringing Japanese animation into the U.S. mainstream. In 2008, he relocated to Europe, where he continues to wear many hats: running a bar, an art gallery, and a radio station; working for a nonprofit; and taking on consulting work across art and media.

Wiatrek’s artistic practice delves into the complex relationship between human creativity and technological processes. He combines traditional hand-drawing techniques with digital tools and plotter printing to produce works that challenge conventional ideas of authorship and the role of machines in art-making. His pieces often explore themes of memory, the passage of time, and the evolving nature of media formats, reflecting on how both past and present technologies influence perception and creativity. Through this fusion of analog and digital methods, Ken invites viewers to consider the shifting boundaries between manual craftsmanship and automated production. His commitment to supporting the next generation of artists is evident in his work as director of SP2 Contemporary in Berlin, where he curates exhibitions that foster innovative approaches and fresh perspectives within contemporary art. Additionally, his podcast, Arbitrarily Deterministic, amplifies voices at the intersection of art, technology, and culture, deepening the conversation around how these fields continually shape each other.

His exhibition history spans solo presentations, group shows, and collaborative installations across the U.S., Europe, and South America. From early work in Texas to recent projects in Berlin and Denmark, his practice has consistently moved between independent spaces and artist-run initiatives. Wiatrek’s collaborations are rooted in long-standing creative relationships, and the residencies he has participated in have provided the space to shift perspective, test new ideas, and carry his work into unfamiliar territory.