Gerhard Richter

Richter studied art in former East Germany. While travelling in West Germany, he encountered and was deeply impressed by the free style of Abstract Expressionism. Richter decided to move to Duseldorf and did so two months before the Berlin Wall was erected. In 1962, he painted an oil painting entitled Table from a newspaper photograph and gave it the number 1 in a catalogue system that he uses today. He files personal snapshot photos and journalistic photos and explores his original style of painting a photograph and photographing a painting. In 1964, Richter had the first solo-exhibition in Munich and Duseldorf. His works were also exhibited at the Venice Biennial in 1972. Richter won the Golden Lion award at the 47th Venice Biennale and was also presented with the Praemium Imperiale in Japan in 1997. His works are internationally acclaimed.