Let's Talk About Photography

Deutsches Haus at NYU presents “Let’s Talk about Photography,” a conversation among renowned New York-based photographers Stefan Falke, Holger Thoss, and Gesche Würfel, which will be moderated by journalist Claudia Steinberg. The focus of their dialogue will be on how contemporary photographers choose to, or choose not to, negotiate and respond to current trends in photography, especially regarding rapid technological advancements (including but not limited to AI), in their practice.

Stefan Falke was born in Paderborn, Germany. He works on assignments for major international magazines and commercial clients. His personal projects resulted in the photo books “MOKO JUMBIES:The Dancing Spirits of Trinidad”, “LA FRONTERA: Artists along the US Mexican Border”, “Keep Going New York !!” and his latest, "Reflecting New York”. His work was shown in over twenty solo exhibitions in international galleries, museums and photo festivals including Visa Pour L’Image (France), Photoville (USA), Triennale der Photographie (Germany) and at XPOSURE International Photography Festival (Sharjah, UAE) where he received the prestigious Global Focus Project Award for “Keep Going New York !!” In 2024. Falke is a longtime member of the German photo agency LAIF and his work received awards from APA, ASMP, IPA, and Communication Arts. He and his wife Christine live in New York City. Stefan Falke’s exhibition “Reflecting New York” is currently on display at Deutsches Haus at NYU (until March 31). To read a detailed recent interview with Stefan Falke please click here.

Journalist Claudia Steinberg (moderator) lives in New York City and writes for publications in the U.S. and abroad, including The New York Times, Die Zeit, Vogue, taz, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Architektur & Wohnen in Germany, and Tank Magazine in England. She covers a wide range of topics: the arts, architecture, and interiors as well as human interest stories.

Holger Thoss, a Brooklyn resident with German roots, integrates martial arts into his life to enhance his photography. His lifelong pursuit has been centered around the fundamentals of breathing, moving, and observing. Guided by intuition, he adopted philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein's motto "Don't Think! Look!" as his guiding principle. Photography transcends mere profession or passion for him; it is his art, his craft, and the key to deciphering life's enigmas. Born in Germany, Holger relocated to New York City in 1988. With a 30-year career in editorial and commercial photography, he currently dedicates his time to personal projects and the creation of public art. A large installation of his “WALK” project was recently exhibited at the Düsseldorf Photo+ Biennale. His next exhibition, “Wilkenroth Landscapes,” will be on display at Deutsches Haus at NYU from April 9 until the end of May. [interview]

Gesche Würfel is a visual artist and a Visiting Arts Professor in the Department of Photo & Imaging at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She holds an MFA in Studio Art from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (USA), an MA in Photography and Urban Cultures from Goldsmiths, University of London (UK), and a Diploma in Spatial Planning from the Technical University Dortmund (Germany). Her work has been exhibited, published, and awarded internationally. Exhibition venues include Tate Modern, London (UK), Künstlerhaus Bethanien (DE), David Zwirner (USA), Contemporary Art Museum Raleigh (USA), Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University (USA), Goldsmiths Center for Contemporary Art (UK), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (USA), and Singapore International Photography Festival (SG). Würfel is the author of Basement Sanctuaries (Schilt Publishing, 2014) and The Absence and Presence of the Berlin Wall (DISTANZ, 2025). Her work has been published in The New York Times, The Guardian, WIRED, Slate, and many other outlets. She is a recipient of grants from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Federal Foundation for the Study of the Communist Dictatorship in Eastern Germany, the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, the NYU Office of the Provost, the NYU Center for the Humanities, the North Carolina Arts Council, the Puffin Foundation, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC), among others. She was selected for the Bloomberg New Contemporaries in 2007. Collecting institutions are the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Museum, MA (USA), the Portland Museum of Art, OR (USA), and the Pensacola Museum of Art, FL (USA). Her exhibition “The Absence and Presence of the Berlin Wall” was on display at Deutsches Haus at NYU from November 2024 until February 2025. Gesche Würfel is represented by Tracey Morgan Gallery. To read a detailed recent interview with Gesche Würfel please click here.

While NYU has ended COVID-19 related restrictions and policies, we continue to remind and recommend to members of the NYU community that they stay up-to-date on their boosters and stay home if they feel sick. Masks are always welcome.

This event is made possible through an endowment established by Roger J. Schnetzer.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Deutsches Haus At New York University, 42 Washington Mews, New York, United States