Welcome to my website. Please enjoy looking around, reading some of my writing and checking out some of my art and projects, I’ve tried to include a representative selection from over the years.

I’m a Berlin-based novelist, editor, narrative director and sometimes artist. My debut novel, The Readymades (2011), was described by Art in America as “one of the greatest works of art to come out of Berlin in recent years,” and was followed by Oslo, Norway (2015) and The Trains of Europe (2024). A recipient of two literature bursaries from the Arts Council of Ireland, I also enjoyed being awarded a Residency in the Centre Cultural Irlandais, Paris in 2022. My art writing and criticism has been published in frieze, Spike Art Magazine and gorse among other places. Since founding Broken Dimanche Press (BDP) in 2009, I’ve overseen the publication of over 100 titles and interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of contemporary art and literature. Under my co-direction with Ida Bencke, I’m glad to say that BDP was twice awarded the Berlin Senate’s Prize for Artistic Project Spaces and Initiatives (2016, 2018) as well as the Karlspreis für Jugend in 2010. As Narrative Director at Klang Games, I’ve led the development of the backstory, lore, and editorial content for SEED, a massive persistent-world simulation of the future of humanity. Some recent curatorial work includes the Empathy When live podcast series (2020–2023), a book, a room series (2018-19) and Augury, a group show at BQ Gallery (2016).

I studied English Literature and Philosophy at University College Dublin, including a year at Paris-Sorbonne University (Paris IV), before receiving my M. Phil in Creative Writing from Trinity College Dublin.

Please get in touch, I’d be delighted to hear from you:

holtenjohn@gmail.com