Gerhard Richter
German·b. 1932
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Gerhard Richter (born 1932) is a German painter who's spent six decades moving between photorealism, abstraction, and everything in between. Born in Dresden, he fled East Germany in 1961 (just before the Berlin Wall went up) and studied at the Düsseldorf Art Academy alongside Sigmar Polke and Blinky Palermo.
Richter's photo-paintings blur photographs onto canvas, while his squeegee abstractions drag layers of color across huge surfaces. He treats painting as a kind of philosophical experiment, questioning what images mean and whether they can tell the truth. His work has sold for over $46 million at auction. Our collection features works held in leading European and American institutions.
Notable Works by Gerhard Richter
2 paintings catalogued with museum locations
Museums with Gerhard Richter's Work
2 museums display Richter's works. Click any museum to see visiting info and the specific works they hold.
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About Gerhard Richter
Richter works across multiple styles simultaneously, from blurred photo-paintings to colorful squeegee abstractions to grey monochromes. He deliberately avoids committing to one approach, treating each as equally valid.
The Gerhard Richter Archiv at the Albertinum in Dresden holds a major collection. Works also hang at MoMA, Tate Modern, and the Art Institute of Chicago.
The blurring effect creates distance between the viewer and the image. Richter paints from photographs, then drags a dry brush across the wet surface. It makes familiar images feel uncertain and raises questions about photographic truth.
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