As an artist, curator, re-searcher, writer and educator, Julian Rieken explores the overlap between experimental sound 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 and Sonic Currents and was the artistic director of the IMPULS Festival and Forum for Contemporary Music Leipzig (FZML) from 2019 to 2024. He is part of the Art Praxis MA at the Dutch Art Institute and the OPI Lab at the Royal Institute of Art Stockholm.

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