Gerhard Richter

Discover the captivating artistry of Gerhard Richter, a renowned artist born in Dresden in 1932. Richter is widely recognized for his mesmerizing large-scale paintings, characterized by layered compositions that reflect the influences of Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism, and Conceptualism.

While Richter's early works encompassed Socialist Realist murals, his artistic journey took a transformative turn in 1961 when he fled Soviet-controlled East Germany. He pursued his studies at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, where his style evolved towards a more photorealistic approach.

In 2002, Richter's remarkable talent was celebrated with a retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, featuring a stunning collection of 180 artworks. Today, Gerhard Richter is widely regarded as one of Germany's most significant and influential artists.

Immerse yourself in the captivating world of Gerhard Richter art and explore the profound expressions of this esteemed artist.

Gerhard Richter Biography

Born in Dresden in 1932, German visual artist Gerhard Richter is best-known for his large abstract works that see layers of colour applied over one and other and then scraped from the surface with a large squeegee. One of these works, titled Abstraktes Bild, sold at auction in 2015 for over £30 million.

Richter’s abstract style was the result of a career that began creating Socialist Realist murals in Soviet ruled East Germany, which developed into a desire to create blurred photo-paintings after fleeing to West Germany and studying at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. His large abstract paintings do not belong to a singular movement, and instead take influence from Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism and Conceptualism.

In 2002 the Museum of Modern Art hosted a retrospective exhibition of the artist’s work, displaying 180 of his artworks. Today, he is considered to be one of the most important contemporary German artists.