Gerhard Richter: Forty Years of Painting

This forty-year survey of works by influential German artist Gerhard Richter (b. 1932) is the most comprehensive exhibition of the artist’s paintings seen in North America. The show presents more than 120 examples spanning Richter’s entire career. Included are paintings executed in a realistic yet blurred style---landscapes, portraits, and other representational paintings based on photographs---as well as abstractions constructed with layered and scraped paint. The subjects of the artist’s work range from World War II--era military scenes and a Titian masterpiece to mundane household objects. Newspaper headlines of both horrific and trivial events and intimate views of family members are also recurrent imagery.

Born and first trained as an artist in East Germany, Richter moved west in the 1960s where he was associated with a group of Düsseldorf artists influenced by American Pop. He distinguished himself by mastering both abstract and depictive genres while subtly commenting on the power of mass media and the prevalence of photography in contemporary visual culture. Celebrated as an artist who has revitalized painting, Richter uses a traditional medium to examine today’s issues.

Organized by Robert Storr, the show comes to the Hirshhorn, its final venue, after stops in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. “Gerhard Richter: Forty Years of Painting” was organized by The Museum of Modern Art, New York, and made possible by Jo Carole and Ronald S. Lauder with generous support from Mimi and Peter Haas. An indemnity has been granted by the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities. Additional funding is provided by Leila and Melville Straus and The Contemporary Arts Council and The Junior Associates of The Museum of Modern Art.

The Washington, D.C. presentation is made possible by a generous grant from Neuberger Berman Foundation. Additional support has been provided by the Holenia Trust in memory of Joseph H. Hirshhorn.

Coordinating curator for the Washington, D.C. presentation is Phyllis Rosenzweig, Curator of Works on Paper. In addition to a free illustrated brochure, a 336-page hardback catalog with over 200 color and duotone reproductions is available in the Museum Store.

Gerhard Richter: Forty Years of Painting
Kuratoren: Robert Storr, Phyllis Rosenzweig

Stationen:
04.02.02 - 21.05.02 Museum of Modern Art, New York
22.06.02 - 15.09.02 Art Institute Chicago
11.10.02 - 14.01.03 San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
20.02-03 - 18.05.03 Hirshhorn Museum, Washington