Immersion into the World of Gerhard Richter
The Fondation Louis Vuitton is hosting a unique retrospective of Gerhard Richter, a leading figure in contemporary German art. Born in Dresden in 1932 and based in Cologne since the 1960s, Richter presents in Paris a collection of over 270 works, spanning six decades of creation, from 1962 to 2024. This exhibition brings together oil paintings, drawings, watercolors, glass and steel sculptures, and reworked photographs, offering a true immersion into the multifaceted universe of an artist in constant experimentation.
An Extraordinary Vision of Painting
Richter never reproduces reality directly. Each painting originates from an interpretation of a photograph, drawing, or existing image, resulting in works that are autonomous and deeply personal. From his earliest compositions, he combines portraits, landscapes, and still lifes with a modern and daring perspective. Over the years, he has explored abstraction, transformed color into a living material, and sometimes allowed chance to guide his hand, continually pushing the boundaries of traditional painting.
A Career in Constant Evolution
The exhibition follows a chronological path, allowing visitors to trace Richter’s development from his early photo-based paintings to his latest abstractions. In the 1960s, he questioned representation by drawing inspiration from newspaper photographs and family portraits, while also exploring the shadows of recent German history. The 1970s were marked by experiments with repetition and the dissolution of the image, while by the end of the decade, abstraction emerged as a central focus, where material and gesture became subjects in their own right. The following decades reveal a more introspective and historical approach, with iconic works such as the October 18, 1977 series, while color and unpredictability became driving forces in the 1990s and 2000s, illustrated by works like 4900 Colors and his tributes to John Cage. His final paintings, inspired by photographs of extermination camps and abstract explorations, reveal an artist constantly reinventing himself, with drawing remaining a central tool in his practice today.
Immersive Experiences
The exhibition also includes spaces dedicated to drawings, watercolors, and painted photographs, interspersed with sculptures placed at key moments throughout the visit. Each room invites visitors to immerse themselves in Richter’s complex and captivating universe, where technique, experimentation, and historical memory combine to create a fully engaging artistic experience.
The Gerhard Richter retrospective at the Fondation Louis Vuitton is a unique opportunity to discover or rediscover a painter whose work continues to leave a profound mark on contemporary art, captivating audiences with its ability to constantly reinvent and surprise.
Open until March 2, 2026. Daily except Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Photo ©Nadine Marfurt