At the 2024 Federal Press Ball in Berlin, I had the special opportunity to capture some of the glamorous looks of the approximately 2,500 invited guests from the worlds of politics, business, and culture through live illustrations. In Germany, the Federal Press Ball is one of the most significant social events and has been organized annually by the Federal Press Conference since 1951. The 2024 theme “For press freedom. Protect democracy.” gave the evening additional depth and relevance, which was also reflected in the atmosphere of the event.
Event illustration in a prestigious setting
Amid this high-profile setting, I created numerous quick, full-body watercolor illustrations on-site in A5 format. Using delicate, spontaneous lines and subtle color gradients, I captured the guests’ individual outfits, poses, and personalities, translating them into a minimalist yet expressive visual language.
The result was a series of individual and couple portraits that captured the unique elegance and diversity of the evening. Each illustration was created on-site and presented to the guests as a personal memento of this extraordinary occasion—an artistic keepsake of an evening that uniquely combined social significance, connection, and style.