Georg Baselitz German, b. 1938
Overview
Untitled, 2005
"The artist is not responsible to any one. His social role is asocial... his only responsibility consists in an attitude to the work he does." -- GEORG BASELITZ
Georg Baselitz is known for his raw, expressive style and his role in post-war European art. A central figure in Neo-Expressionism, Baselitz's work is marked by bold brushwork, distorted figures, and provocative imagery that challenges traditional aesthetic norms.
Growing up in East Germany after World War II, Baselitz witnessed the cultural and political upheavals that deeply influenced his art. He moved to West Berlin in 1958 to study painting, where he rejected the dominant abstraction of the time in favor of figurative work infused with psychological and historical tension.
In 1969, Baselitz began inverting his subjects — turning figures and landscapes upside down — a radical gesture that became his signature. This approach distanced the viewer from narrative content and emphasized formal elements like color, structure, and composition.
Baselitz's work often grapples with German identity, history, and memory, confronting themes of war, nationalism, and personal trauma. His paintings, woodcuts, and monumental sculptures are characterized by their raw energy, primal imagery, and physicality.
Works
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Untitled, 2005
Exhibitions
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Selected Works
Group Show - Brussels 22 Apr - 2 Oct 2025The Charles Riva Collection is proud to inaugurate its new exhibition space in the heart of Brussels, a magnificent townhouse that provides a refined and intimate setting for showcasing the...Read more -
LEVEL PART II
Laffanour Galerie Downtown Paris 3 - 26 Oct 2024Laffanour | Galerie Downtown is delighted to unveil the exhibition “LEVEL Part II”, inRead more
collaboration with Charles Riva Collection and François Laffanour and collector and curator Charles Riva bring together contemporary artworks by international artists with iconic pieces by 20th-century designers during Art Basel Paris
