ABOUT

Svenja Kratz is an Australian artist, educator, and researcher with a strong track record of non-traditional research outputs at the intersection of art, design, science, and technology. She holds a PhD in Biotechnology and Contemporary Art from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), with specialised expertise in cell and tissue culture and interdisciplinary arts practice. From 2008 to 2012, she worked in the area of cell and tissue culture at QUT’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), where she developed three major bodies of work exploring biotechnological processes, including the primary culture of human and fetal calf cells, tissue engineering, and genetic engineering. These projects reflect her deep engagement with contemporary biotechnologies and their philosophical and ethical implications.

Since 2013, Kratz has collaborated with researchers and creative practitioners across diverse fields such as music, design, architecture, electrical engineering, molecular biology, and biomanufacturing. Her projects delve into the complexity of living systems, emphasising the transformative potential and ethical challenges of engineered life. She has completed residencies at prominent art-science institutions, including SymbioticA, the Centre of Excellence in the Biological Arts at the University of Western Australia (2010), and The Arts & Genomics Centre at Gorlaeus Laboratories, Leiden University, Netherlands (2013).

In 2021, Kratz was awarded a prestigious ANAT Synapse grant to develop a collaborative project with the QUT Centre for Regenerative Medicine, the School of Medicine, and the Centre for Law and Genetics at the University of Tasmania (UTAS). This residency led to the creation of an induced pluripotent stem cell line (SK1 and SK2) as an alternative form of genetic legacy, further extending her exploration into posthuman and biotechnological concepts of legacy and kinship.

In parallel with her creative practice, Kratz is a seasoned lecturer and tutor specialising in fine art, design, and interdisciplinary studies. She has taught at institutions including Griffith University, The Queensland Institute of Business and Technology (QIBT), The Australian Technology Network (ATN), QUT, and UTAS, where she brings her interdisciplinary expertise to engage students in both theory and practice.