Saturday, April 25, 2026 · No. 114
Artist Profile

Georg Baselitz

Georg Baselitz is a German painter and sculptor best known for his expressive, figurative works and his signature technique of painting subjects upside down to emphasize the artifice of the medium.

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Biography

Born in Germany, Georg Baselitz emerged as a significant figure in the 1960s, gaining recognition for his expressive approach to figurative painting. He sought to move beyond the content-driven nature of traditional representation, leading him to develop his distinctive practice of inverting his subjects in 1969, a stylistic hallmark that has defined his career for decades.

His work draws from a diverse range of influences, including Mannerist art, Soviet-era illustration, and African sculpture. Working across painting, sculpture, and graphic arts, Baselitz explores themes of national identity and technical evolution, often utilizing bold, gestural marks to challenge the viewer's perception of the image.

Baselitz remains a central figure in contemporary art, with his work frequently featured in major institutional exhibitions. Recent highlights include dual exhibitions at the Museum der Moderne Salzburg, a retrospective of his woodcuts and etchings at the Kunstmuseum Schloss Derneburg, and the inclusion of his work in the Duerckheim collection at the Serralves Foundation.

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Notable Works

  • Hero · 1965Painting
  • New Type · 1966Painting
  • Eroi d'Oro · 2026Painting

Career Highlights

  • 2026Dual exhibitions at Museum der Moderne Salzburg
  • 2026Solo exhibition Eroi d'Oro at Thaddaeus Ropac
  • 2026Time for New Heroes exhibition at Kunstmuseum Schloss Derneburg
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From The Cultural Signal