celebrate turns 102, marking a lifetime dedicated to painting.
In a remarkable testament to memory and resilience, 102-year-old Berta Silberhorn, born Heberle, continues to recall individual years and the birthdays of her family members. This remarkable memory is a testament to her vibrant life, filled with art, travel, and overcoming adversity.
Born in Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany in 1919, Berta grew up in the Upper Silesian city of Rybnik. Her artistic journey began in the 1960s when she fled the communist regime and made her way to Paris, eventually settling in Duisburg.
During her formative years, Berta studied at the Famos Artists School in Amsterdam, under the tutelage of the expressionist Oskar Kokoschka. Her artistic career peaked in the 1970s, with exhibitions in Paris and Florida, solidifying her recognition as a painter and graphic artist.
However, her journey was not without challenges. As a student, Berta worked as a cleaner to finance her studies. Later, during the hyperinflation period in Germany, the price of an egg rose to an astounding 320 million marks. Despite these hardships, Berta's dedication to her craft remained unwavering.
In her later years, Berta resides in a senior living home in Buchenau. Despite her age, she emphasizes that her life has always been about painting. Berta also remained childless throughout her life. In 2004, she married Heinrich Silberhorn, and the two shared six years together before Heinrich's passing.
Vice-Landrat Martina Drechsler and Stadtrat and Social Affairs Director Peter Glockzin congratulated Berta on her birthday, celebrating her life and accomplishments. Despite the lack of detailed documentation about Berta's life, her story serves as a testament to the power of art and resilience in the face of adversity.
Berta Silberhorn's life and work continue to inspire, reminding us of the power of art and the indomitable spirit of those who create it.
Berta Silberhorn's art-filled life, marked by travels and overcoming adversity, found a new setting in her senior living home in Buchenau, transformed into a canvas of her own vibrant home-and-garden lifestyle. Despite her age and lack of children, Berta's dedication to her artistic lifestyle remained unwavering, her story a testament to the enduring impact of art on one's lifestyle.
