ABOUT
I am an independent Austrian director and video artist working across scenography, model making, concept illustration, and stop-motion animation. Blending post-digital and analogue techniques, I create surreal visual worlds and experimental effects rooted in crafted, material-based processes.
My artistic background draws on analogue and experiential art forms, including theatre, nature playground and theme park design, as well as stop-motion animation. I combine these influences with a range of digital media, conceiving my surreal film and video works as autonomous creatures and characters.
In addition to my independent film work, Studio Commander Clay provides stop-motion animation, sculpting, character design, and post production services, as well as professional masterclasses upon request.
LIFE & WORK
1995-2000 - HTBLA Ortwein for Art & Design Graz, Austria
2001-2004 lighting technician at the Jagsthausen Castle Festival, Germany
2002-2010 - Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design, Germany
since 2010 - today Independent Filmmaker/Motion Designer & Illustrator, Europe, UK
2014 - 2023 Film Producer, Austria
since 2026 Animationsinstitut Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Additional Roles:
2021 - 2024 Playground Design & Concept, Austria, UK
Since 2026 Character Toy Design & Product Design, Germany
Since 2024, Lead Animator on several external projects in Europe
Teaching Assignments (selected):
2014 - 2017 FUM Film & Media Academy Graz, Course Lead for Animation and Directing
2025 -2026 Academy of Arts in Szczecin: ANIMA NOWE NARRACJE 2025, Poland
Artist Grants / Fellowships (selected):
2010-2013 - Postgraduate Funding Grant of Baden Württemberg, Germany
2012 - Cineart Award Styria for script writing & stop motion animation, Austria
2012 - Cineart Working Grant
2025 - Working Grant for Film Art, Federal Ministry for Arts and Culture, Austria
FESTIVALS
03/2011 - Tricky Women International Animationfilmfestival, Vienna, Austria
03/2011 - Monstra, International Animated Film Festival, Lisbon, Portugal
03/2011 - Landshuter Shortfilmfestival, Germany
10/2011 - AniWoW! International Student Animation Festival, Peking, China
03/2012 - Tricky Women, International Animationfilmfestival, Vienna, Austria
03/2012 - Monstra, International Animated Film Festival, Lisbon, Portugal
03/2012 - ITFS, International Trickfilm Festival Stuttgart, Germany
09.2012 - FANTOCHE, International Festival for Animated Film, Baden, Switzerland
10/2012 - Anim´EST, International Animation Film Festival, Bukarest, Rumänien
10/2012 - Montreal Stop Motion Film Festival, Montreal, Canada
11/2012 - FILMETS International Badalona Film Festival, Barcelona
04/2013 - Best of Musikvideo, Filmfestival of Film Akademy Vienna, Austria
05/2013 - Best-of-Young-Steiermark – Cinema Next Movie Night Schubertkino, Graz, Austria
06/2013 - MIAF, Melbourne International Animation Film Festival, Melburne, Australia
06/3013 - KAFF, Kecskemet Animation Film Festival, Hungary
06/2013 - Fest Anča 2013 International Animation Festival, Zilina, Slovakia
08/2013 - PALENA International Animation Film Festival, Palena, Switzerland
08/2013 - MuVi Best-of Poolbar Festival, Feldkirch, Austria
11/2013 - Anilogue International Animation Film Festival, Budapest, Hungary
from 09/2012 to 09/2013 - BEST OF ITFS - International Festival Tour:
International Animation Film Festival Stuttgart (Baden-Württemberg Rolle)
10.-15.09.2012 - VARNA World Festival of Animated Film, Varna, Romania
06.-14.10.2012 - ANIMATOU, Genf, Switzerland
10.10.2012 - ANIMÉST, Romania
20.10.2012 - StuttgartNacht, Cinema Stuttgart, Germany
27.10 -04.11.2012 - VAF. Viborg, Denmark
28.10.2012 - International Animation Day, Porto, Portugal
28.10.2012 - International Animation Day, Sofia, Bulgaria
29.10.2012 - MINISHAR FOR ART, International Animation Day, Tel Aviv, Israel
01.-04.11.2012 - MULTIVISION FESTIVAL, St.Petersburg, Russia
02.11.2012 - HOLON Cinematheque, Internationalen Animation Day, Israel
07.11.2012 - „einKINOstein“ im Kinocenter Kehl, Germany
07.-11.11.2012 - PISAF Puchon, Korea, South Korea
26.11.2012 - Limassol Animation Forum, Zypern
07.-09.12.2012 - ZIMFAIA, Harare, Simbabwe
22.02.2013 - Kino im Waldhorn, Rottenburg, Germany
26.02.2013 - Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart
01.03.2013 - Kino im Waldhorn, Rottenburg, Germany
EXHIBITIONS & PUBLICATIONS
2004 - Nominated for the "Gunther Schroff Schorlarship" for shortfilm "black&white" lav
2005 - video contribution at Art- and Culture Festival Heilbronn musicvideo "pope generationII"
2006 - Nominated for ZKM award for experimental paper collage film "schwarzes Heu"
2007 - Exhibition „Night Ride“, Schlosspark Karlsruhe 2d animation "feathers"
2008 - Exhibition „Kino & Comics“, Städtische Galerie Karlsruhe 2d animation"Missgeschicke"
2009 - video contribution Art TV Station souvenirs from earth "schwarzes Heu"
2010 - Distincted by the State University for Art and Design Karlsruhe for clayanimation „Birthmark“
2010 - video contribution „on-3 Shortfilmnight“, Bayrischer Rundfunk TV „Birthmark“
2011 - video contribution Art Association Wilhelmshöhe Ettlingen „Birthmark“
2011 - Nomination for the Hubert Sielecki Prize for "Birthmark"
2011 - Distincted by the Künstlerhaus Wien for "Birthmark"
2012 - Cineart Award of Styria for story concept "Psyriel"
2012 - „That´s The Beat“ on „BEST OF ITFS 2012“ DVD (International Tour)
2012 - Publication in the "BEST OF ANIMATION", Anibar IFF „That´s The Beat“
08/2013 - Distincted by PALENA Film Festivals with the MENZIONE SPECIALE Prize, „That´s The Beat“
02/2013 - Portrait and Interview on „ARTfaces“ Kulturservice des Landes Steiermark
01/2014 - Publication in DRAW 4 2D "Psyriel"
04/2019 - "Missing link; Personality" Independent Art Gallery Din Lømmel, Tønsberg, Norway
02/2021 - Group Exhibition Illu Kollektiv Graz: "UNLOCKED"
02/2021 - Group Exhibition Illu Kollektiv Graz: "MIND BUBBLES"
05/2021 - Group Exhibition Illu Kollektiv Graz: "WHIRLED"
07/2021 - "BREATHE" in cooperation with "The Breathe Earth Collective", Group Exhibition Illu Kollektiv Graz
09.2021 - "CHANGE" Murinsel Graz, Austria
09.2021 - "Figures", upTown Art Graz, Austria
09.2021 - "We Love Illustration", Design-Forum Graz, Austria
06.2025 - "48 Stunden Neukölln" Atelier Zyklopik Studio Exhibition, Berlin, Germany
01.2026 - “Animateria” Zona Gallery, Academy of Art in Szczecin, Poland
06.2026 - "48 Stunden Neukölln" Atelier Zyklopik Studio Exhibition, Berlin, Germany