Gerhard Richter

Gerhard Richter (b. February 9, 1932, Dresden, Germany) is one of the most significant artists of his generation, known for his innovative exploration of painting and photography across a variety of styles. Born to a middle-class family, his childhood was shaped by the hardships of World War II, including personal losses and the aftermath of Nazi and Soviet rule. Despite being fascinated by art and military imagery as a child, Richter struggled academically and pursued vocational studies before formally studying mural painting at the Dresden Hochschule für Bildende Künste (1951–1956).

 

In 1959, his exposure to contemporary art at Documenta II in Kassel marked a turning point in his career. After fleeing East Germany in 1961, he studied at the Kunstakademie in Düsseldorf, where he helped form the "capitalist realism" group alongside Sigmar Polke and others. This marked the beginning of a diverse career that has spanned decades, characterized by experiments with abstraction, photo-realism and conceptual reinterpretations of genres.

 

Richter has held numerous influential exhibitions, including representing Germany at the 1972 Venice Biennale and participating in Documenta a record number of times. Retrospectives of his work have been mounted by major institutions like the Centre Pompidou, Tate and The Museum of Modern Art. His contributions to art have earned him prestigious awards, including the Golden Lion at Venice (1997) and the Praemium Imperiale Award (1997).

 

In recent years, his works have been featured in long-term exhibitions such as Gerhard Richter: 100 Works for Berlin (2023), showcasing pieces gifted by his foundation. He continues to create art and lives in Cologne, Germany, with recent exhibitions hosted by David Zwirner gallery.