As an artist, curator, re-searcher and educator, Julian Rieken explores the overlap between experimental sound and media practices, artistic research and ecological and social action. He creates forums and confluences, transdisplinary exhibitions and experiential works that catalyze political imaginaries and foster ecological empathy and agency.  

Guided by collaborative, collective and convivial practices, his work seeks to reflect contemporary urgencies and render speculative landscapes that probe alternative future imaginaries. In his artistic practice, he interrelates sonic experiences with different forms of sensory narratives, gentle gesturing and poetic storytelling. His works takes shape of performative rituals, installations and experimental radio.

He is a founding member of SONIC TOMORROW, was the artistic director of the IMPULS Festival and Forum for Contemporary Music Leipzig (FZML) from 2020 to 2024 and curatorial assistant at the Basel Academy of Art and Design from 2012 to 2019. He is currently part of the Art Praxis MA at the Dutch Art Institute, Organismo | Art in Applied Critical Ecologies at TBA21–Academy and Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza as well as the Postnatural Independent Program at the Institute for Postnatural Studies in Madrid, Spain.

His artistic and curatorial work has been presented at Academy of Arts Berlin, Basel Academy of Art and Design, Bauhaus Museum Dessau, Botanical Garden Leipzig, European Media Art Festival Osnabrück, Federal Environmental Agency Dessau, Floating University, Gallery for Contemporary Art Leipzig, Gaudeamus Festival Utrecht, Heidelberg Festival, Hyperwerk, IMPULS Festival, John Cage Organ Foundation Halberstadt, MKH Biennial for Contemporary Art, Sanatorium of Sound, Struer Tracks Biennial, Techne Sphere Leipzig, University of the Arts Bremen, and others.