Johan Hartle (b. 1976) holds a PhD in philosophy and is a professor of art theory at the Karlsruhe University for Arts and Design in Germany focusing on political aesthetics. He previously taught philosophy of art and culture at the University of Amsterdam and served as a visiting professor of philosophy and art theory at CAA’s School of Intermedia Art.

His main research areas include Marxist and post-Marxist speculation, as well as the relationship between aesthetics and politics within the theoretical tradition of art institutions. His works have commented on numerous propositions in continental philosophy and a plethora of artistic practices. Some of his notable publications include Personal Killings (2010), Dada Lenin (2013), The Sorcery of Capital – Reification and Spectacle (2017), Marxist Aesthetics (2017), The Aging of Adorno’s Aesthetics (2021), Frankfurt School Aesthetics: The Aesthetic Dialectics of Mental Health (2023).

In 2014, Johan Hartle participated in the Hanart 100: Idiosyncrasies/3 Parallel Artworlds forum, where he was one of the co-creators of the 3 Parallel Artworlds theoretical framework.