Say Hello To My Little Friend, 2025

Artist Claus Stangl opens up a conversation to explore
the blurred line between innocent childhood play and 
the human appetite for violence. This body of work was born from an observation and 
a curiosity of human behaviour ranging as far back as accent 
mythology through to today’s society – that often feels like it’s 
spinning out of control.

Today, wars kill innocent masses, corrupt politicians compete 
for global power, disenfranchised civilians riot in the streets, 
inequality divides society as the rich get richer and the poor 
get poorer, and in the middle consumerism is eating us all. When did we become so competitive? Why is masculinity so toxic? Is conflict necessary for engaging storytelling? Childhood play often begins with conflict between 
Goodies and Baddies. Heroes and Villains. Is violence a natural phenomenon or have we indoctrinated 
young minds and normalised fighting for a side.

b. 1980, England

Claus Stangl is a visual artist based in Sydney, Australia.

He’s been a finalist in Australia’s most popular art prize, the Archibald Portrait Prize, twice. Firstly in 2020 with his portrait of Australian hiphop artist L-FRESH The Lion and again in 2022 where he won the Packing Room Prize with a portrait of Kiwi filmmaker Taika Waititi.

Claus has spent most of his life devoted to studying visual art, primarily working in acrylic on large-sized canvases. Claus has said he enjoys the challenge of giving acrylic soul and visual depth – something he feels is more easily achieved with oils.

Prior to working as an artist, Claus spent eighteen years as a creative in the advertising industry. He began his career as an art director in some of the worlds top agencies – Dare London, Clemenger BBDO, DDB and Leo Burnett. Then in 2015 he joined the team at Facebook/Instagram where he spent almost five years working as a creative strategist.

Two decades of creative industry experience have influenced his work as an artist, instilling a fondness for unique ideas that are executed with bold simplicity.