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Key Takeaways

Matthias Weischer is a prominent painter associated with the New Leipzig School.
His paintings are known for their unique depiction of deserted interiors.
Weischer's work has been showcased in numerous solo exhibitions worldwide, with more than 24 solo shows prior to his exhibition in New York.
His style is characterized by the use of pastose color frames and numerous lacquer layers.
Matthias Weischer's exhibition features multiple paintings inspired by stage sets, including mirrors and motifs.
Weischer's work has been exhibited alongside other notable artists, such as Tal R and Josh Smith, who have also made significant contributions to the contemporary art scene.

A Prominent Figure

Matthias Weischer, born in 1973 in Elte, North Rhine-Westphalia, is a painter based in Leipzig. He is widely recognized as one of the key members of the New Leipzig School.

Weischer pursued his studies in painting from 1995 to 2001 and earned his Master's degree in 2003 from the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst (HGB), where he studied under Professor Sighard Gille. In 2002, he co-founded the artist-run gallery LIGA in Berlin, along with eleven other former HGB students, including Christoph Ruckhäberle, Tim Eitel, David Schnell, and Tilo Baumgärtel. Although LIGA was closed in 2004, its legacy remains important in the art scene.

Following his time with LIGA, Weischer worked with prominent galleries including Galerie Kleindienst, Anthony Wilkinson, and EIGEN + Art. He is currently represented by König Gallery in Berlin and Grimm Gallery in Amsterdam. Weischer’s studio is situated at the Leipzig Cotton Mill, a creative hub in the city.

Artistic Evolution and Exhibitions

Matthias Weischer's work fluctuates between abstract and figurative painting. Up until 2006, his paintings often depicted empty interiors resembling stage sets, filled with abstract elements. These settings included furniture, everyday objects, and large-scale ornaments, often referencing the aesthetics of the 1950s and 1960s. The collage-like quality of his work created a complex and sometimes ambiguous relationship between these objects.

In 2007, during a residency in Rome, Weischer shifted his focus to drawing, studying nature and landscapes. Since then, his work has been characterized by smaller-scale pieces created with paper, lighter color palettes, and an exploration of various printing techniques. Recently, he has also ventured into three-dimensional sculptural works.

Since 2001, Weischer's art has been displayed internationally, with notable exhibitions in cities such as London (2003), Miami (2004), at the Venice Biennale, Cleveland Museum of Art, Chungnam, Korea (2005), The Hague, Málaga (2008), Ponce, Puerto Rico (2011), Hong Kong (2015), and Amsterdam (2017).

Weischer's work is held in numerous public and private collections, including those of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, Arken Museum of Modern Art in Denmark, Arario Collection in Korea, Museum der bildenden Künste in Leipzig, the Rubel Family Collection in Miami, and the Susan and Michael Hort Collection in New York.

Solo Exhibitions

2001: Galerie Kleindienst, Leipzig
2002: Räumen, Kunsthaus Essen
2003: Anthony Wilkinson Gallery, London
2003: 3 Zimmer, Diele, Bad, LIGA, Berlin
2004: simultan, Künstlerhaus Bremen
2005: Museum der bildenden Künste Leipzig (Art award of the Leipziger Volkszeitung)
2006: Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst, Aachen
2006: Galerie EIGEN + ART, Berlin
2006: Arbeiten auf Papier, Kunstverein Konstanz; Kunstverein Ulm
2007: Der Garten – Arbeiten auf Papier, Neuer Berliner Kunstverein
2007: Museum zu Allerheiligen Schaffhausen; Kunsthalle Mannheim
2008: Gemeentemuseum Den Haag
2008: Der Garten – Arbeiten auf Papier, Kloster Bentlage, Rheine
2008: Room with a View, CAC Málaga - Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de Málaga
2009: Room with a View, Kunsthalle Mainz
2010: In Monte Carlo, Galerie EIGEN + ART, Leipzig
2011: Alice, Armin und all die anderen. Auf Papier, Museum der bildenden Künste Leipzig; Kunstverein Bremerhaven
2011: Obra nueva/New Works, Museo de Arte de Ponce, Puerto Rico
2013: Thicket, GRIMM Gallery, Amsterdam
2014: The Vincent Award Room: Matthias Weischer, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag
2014: Matthias Weischer, TAJAN, Paris
2015: Matthias Weischer: Das Druckgraphische Werk, Akademie Franz-Hitz-Haus, Münster
2015: Traces to Nowhere, Lehmann Maupin Gallery, Hong Kong
2015: Matthias Weischer, König Gallery, Berlin
2016: Matthias Weischer - Grafik von 2005-2016, Thaler Originalgrafik, Leipzig
2016: In und auf Papier, Kloster Bentlage, Rheine
2017: Bankett, Grimm Gallery, Amsterdam
2019: Matthias Weischer, König Gallery, Berlin
2020: Stage, Grimm Gallery, New York
2020: Matthias Weischer, König Tokyo Gallery, Tokyo
2020: Bühne, Drents Museum, Assen, Netherlands

Selected Group Exhibitions

2000: "LIGA", Steibs Hof, Leipzig
2000: "lokal", Galerie EIGEN + ART, Leipzig
2001: "Szenenwechsel XX", Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt am Main
2001: Galerie Kleindienst, Leipzig
2002: Galerie EIGEN + ART, Leipzig
2002: "6 aus 11", LIGA, Berlin
2003: "Sieben mal Malerei", Neuer Leipziger Kunstverein at Museum der bildenden Künste, Leipzig
2004: "Northern Light", Rubell Family Collection, Miami
2004: "Life After Death. New Leipzig Paintings from the Rubell Family Collection", Rubell Family Collection, Miami; MASS MoCA, North Adams; SITE Santa Fe, New Mexico; Katzen Arts Center Museum, Washington D.C.; Frye Art Museum, Seattle; Salt Lake Art Center, Salt Lake City; Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City (until 2008)
2005: "David, Matthes und ich", Kunstverein Nürnberg; Kunstverein Bielefeld
2005: "Cold Hearts. Artists from Leipzig", Arario Gallery, Cheonan, Korea
2005: "51st Venice Biennale. The Experience of Art", Venice
2005: "The Triumph of Painting. Part 3", Saatchi Gallery, London
2006: "Deutsche Wandstücke. Sette scene di nuova pittura germanica", Museion Bozen
2006: "Netherlands v. Germany - Painting/Malerei", GEM Museum voor actuele kunst, The Hague
2006: "Artists from Leipzig", Arario Beijing
2006: "Imagination Becomes Reality. Part V: Fantasy and Fiction", Sammlung Goetz, Munich
2007: "Rockers Island. Werke aus der Sammlung Olbricht", Museum Folkwang Essen
2007: "Weischer meets Beckmann", Kunsthalle Mannheim
2008: "Germania contemporanea. Dipingere è narrare", MART - Museo d'arte moderna e contemporanea di Trento e Rovereto
2008: "The Leipzig Phenomenon", Műcsarnok Kunsthalle, Budapest
2008: "New Leipzig School", Cobra Museum, Amstelveen
2008: "Interieur/Exterieur. Wohnen in der Kunst", Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg
2010: "Parallels: Young Contemporary Painting from Norway/Leipzig", Kistefos Museum, Jevnaker
2010: "'Die Bilder tun was mit mir ...'. Einblicke in die Sammlung Frieder Burda", Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden
2012: "Sidetracks – Painting in the Paramodern Continuum", Stavanger Art Museum
2012: "Atelier + Küche – Labore der Sinne", Marta Herford
2013: "Nightfall", Rudolfinum, Prague
2012: "Paintings/Pinturas. The Rubell Family Collection", Sala de Arte Santander, Madrid
2013: "The Inevitable Figuration", Centro per l'arte contemporanea Luigi Pecci, Prato
2013: "Schöne Landschaft - Bedrohte Natur: Alte Meister im Dialog mit zeitgenössischer Kunst", Kunsthalle Osnabrück
2013: "Ortsbestimmung - Zeitgenössische Kunst aus Sachsen", Kulturhistorisches Museum Görlitz
2013: "Donation Florence et Daniel Guerlain", Centre Pompidou, Paris
2014: "This Side of Paradise", S|2 Sotheby's, London
2015: "All the World’s a Stage - Works from the Goetz Collection", Fundación Banco Santander, Madrid
2015: "Offen auf AEG: Druckgrafische Arbeiten Auf AEG", Nürnberg
2015: "Camera Obscura - Malerei von David Schnell, Matthias Weischer und Christoph Ruckhäberle", Neuer Pfaffenhofener Kunstverein, Pfaffenhofen
2015: "Made in Germany", Highpoint Printmaking Center, Minneapolis
2016: "Maroc", ASPN Gallery, Leipzig
2016: "Aufschlussreiche Räume - Interieur als Portrait", Museum Morsbroich, Leverkusen
2017: "Künstlerräume II", Gallery Karsten Greve, Cologne
2017: "Three Positions. Six Directions", König Gallery, Berlin
2017: "Germany 8: Next Generation - Young German Art", White Box Art Center, Beijing
2019: "Away in the Hill", Grimm Gallery, New York

Honors and Recognition

2001: Junge Kunst Scholarship, Kunsthaus Essen
2003: Stiftung Kunstfonds Scholarship for the Promotion of Contemporary Visual Arts, Bonn
2004: Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative – Mentored by David Hockney
2005: August Macke Prize
2005: Art Award from Leipziger Volkszeitung
2007: Deutsche Akademie Rom Villa Massimo Scholarship, Rome
2012: Civitella Ranieri Foundation Scholarship
2017: Eduard Arnhold Scholarship

Publications

Michael Hametner: On Stage: 15 Conversations – A Portrait of the Painter Matthias Weischer. Mitteldeutscher Verlag, 2016. (German/English) ISBN 978-3-95462-643-4
Matthias Weischer. Obra nueva/New Work, exhibition catalog. Museo de Arte de Ponce, Puerto Rico, 2011. (Spanish/English) ISBN 978-0-9830208-6-8
Kunstwerkstatt Matthias Weischer, Prestel Verlag, Munich, 2011. (German) ISBN 978-3-7913-4449-2
Matthias Weischer. Room with a View, exhibition catalog. Kunsthalle Mainz, Sparkasse Essen, 2009. (German/English) ISBN 978-3-941185-36-4
Matthias Weischer. In the Space Between, exhibition catalog. CAC Málaga, 2008. (Spanish) ISBN 978-84-96159-69-3
Matthias Weischer. Der Garten. Arbeiten auf Papier/The Garden. Works on Paper, exhibition catalog. Neuer Berliner Kunstverein; Kloster Bentlage, Rheine, 2007. (German/English) ISBN 978-3-7757-2042-7
Matthias Weischer. Malerei/Painting, exhibition catalog. Museum zu Allerheiligen Schaffhausen, Kunsthalle Mannheim, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, 2007. (German/English) ISBN 978-3-7757-1904-9
The Triumph of Painting. Matthias Weischer, Eberhard Havekost, Dexter Dalwood, Dana Schutz, Michael Raedecker, Inka Essenhigh, London, 2005. ISBN 978-3-86560-015-8
Matthias Weischer. Simultan, exhibition catalog. Künstlerhaus Bremen, 2004. (German/English) ISBN 978-3-7757-1495-2

FAQ

Who is Matthias Weischer?

Matthias Weischer is a painter born in 1973. He is known for his work in the New Leipzig School.

How did Weischer's early life and education influence his artistic style?

Weischer grew up in Elte, North Rhine-Westphalia. He then studied at the HGB in Leipzig. This shaped his unique style. His exposure to German Expressionism was key.

What is the significance of the LIGA gallery in Weischer's career?

The LIGA gallery, founded by Weischer and his HGB classmates, was crucial. It helped shape his art. The gallery's spirit and influence in Berlin are lasting.

How does Weischer master the depiction of space in his paintings?

Weischer creates unique views in his paintings. He draws the viewer into his empty spaces. His techniques add to the emotional impact of his work.

What are the technical innovations in Weischer's paintings?

Weischer's paintings show technical advancements in materials and methods. His experimentation has changed the painting world.

How has Weischer's work been received internationally?

Weischer's work has been widely praised. His major shows have made him a leading figure in art.

How has Weischer's gallery representation affected his career?

Weischer's work with galleries like König Gallery has boosted his career. His international presence has grown. Galleries have helped raise his profile.

Source Links

Selena Mattei | ArtMajeur Magazine

Artist portraits New Leipzig School German painter Matthias Weischer abstract figurative deserted interiors

Matthias Weischer's Journey: From Awards to Global Exhibitions