MARA-MADELEINE PIELER was born in Stuttgart in 1991 and lives and works as a set and lighting designer in Hamburg.

She studied stage and costume design at the Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart from 2012 to 2015. In 2015, she transferred to the Hochschule für Bildende Künste Hamburg, where she successfully completed her studies in stage design and fine art with Professor Raimund Bauer. She also holds a master’s degree in Architectural Lighting Design from the University of Wismar (2020–2022).

Her artistic approach is defined by the interweaving of architectural structures with narrative light as a central element. This exploration of light as a storytelling medium forms the core of her practice. Shifting levels of abstraction unfold in her works, generating associative spaces and stage environments. Through the sensitive use of light, she creates atmospheres that are both tangible and psychologically immersive—spaces that become active components of the narrative.

Mara-Madeleine Pieler designs stage spaces for institutions such as Schauspielhaus Hamburg, Maxim Gorki Theater Berlin, Staatstheater Cottbus, Thalia Theater Hamburg, Kampnagel Hamburg, and Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus. She also develops lighting concepts and immersive spatial installations in both cultural and architectural contexts.