Gerhard Richter

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Biography
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Gerhard Richter (b. 1932)

The chameleon of contemporary art – blending photography, abstraction, and emotional detachment.

Style: Difficult to categorize. He paints hyperrealistic images and completely abstract canvases—often within the same series.
Technique: In his famous “blurred” paintings, he first paints realistic scenes and then smears them with a squeegee. In his abstractions, he uses paint as a building material—layer by layer.
Trivia: He regularly destroys unsuccessful paintings. He claims that risk is the most important aspect of art.
Why it matters today: Richter is a master of controlled chance. In an era tired of style, he shows that variability is a strength—not a weakness.

Biography

Gerhard Richter is a leading German contemporary visual artist known for his diverse styles encompassing abstract paintings, photorealistic paintings based on photographs, glass art, and conceptual works. Widely regarded as one of the most important and influential living painters, Richter’s work explores the nature of perception, memory, and the complexities of history through innovative techniques.

Early Life and Education

Born in Dresden and raised in the Upper Lusatian countryside, Richter showed early interest in art, apprenticing as a sign painter before studying at the Dresden Art Academy. After escaping East Germany, he furthered his education at Kunstakademie Düsseldorf under influential teachers and alongside contemporaries such as Sigmar Polke.

Emergence and Artistic Style

In the 1960s, Richter became known for his photo-paintings—works based on black-and-white photographs featuring blurred effects—a technique he developed to question reality and representation. He also created abstract and conceptual works exploring chance, color, and form.

Major Works and Themes

Richter’s oeuvre includes iconic cycles like '48 Portraits', political works such as the '18 October 1977' series on the Red Army Faction, and deeply contemplative pieces reflecting on memory and trauma including paintings about Dresden’s bombing and the Holocaust. His 'Birkenau' series relates to Auschwitz.

Innovations and Later Career

He ventured into abstract color charts, large stained glass windows like the one in Cologne Cathedral, fluorescence from scientific phenomena, and innovative techniques involving squeegees. His experimental approach blends painterly methods with conceptual rigor.

Nationality

German

Themes

Abstract art, photorealism, conceptual art, capitalist realism, portraits, landscapes, history, memory, political and scientific themes

Richter has received numerous acclaimed awards including the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale, the Wolf Prize, the Praemium Imperiale, and several state prizes.

1981
Arnold Bode Prize, Kassel

Acknowledged for his contributions to contemporary art in Germany and internationally.
1994/95
Wolf Prize, Israel

An internationally recognized honor for outstanding achievement in the arts.
1997
Praemium Imperiale, Japan

One of the world’s most prestigious art prizes presented for lifetime achievement.
1997
Golden Lion, Venice Biennale

Awarded at the world-renowned Venice Biennale for artistic excellence.