Thomas Riesner, a German artist, was born in Leipzig in 1971, where he still resides. He is a self-taught artist who began painting in 1990, using mediums such as acrylics, ink, and drypoint etching. His style, which he calls "abstract figuration," evolved from his early tendency towards abstract art in elementary school. He is associated with the Outsider art movement, creating intuitive and spontaneous works often with dark motifs. Riesner has participated in various exhibitions and won a cover art competition for Thieme Verlag in 2007 and 2015.