Anselm Kiefer, born on March 8, 1945, in Donaueschingen, Germany, is a renowned painter and sculptor whose work confronts the shadows of history, particularly the atrocities of the Holocaust and the legacy of Nazi rule. Influenced by his mentors Peter Dreher and Horst Antes in the late 1960s, Kiefer’s art incorporates unconventional materials such as straw, ash, clay, lead, and shellac, and often draws from the poetry of Paul Celan and the mysticism of Kabbalah to explore themes of memory and trauma. His large-scale, symbolic works, including pieces like Margarete and The Hierarchy of Angels, have earned him recognition as a central figure in Neo-Expressionism and New Symbolism. Since 1992, Kiefer has lived and worked primarily in France, and in 2018, he was granted Austrian citizenship.
Artist Biography: Anselm Kiefer
Born in Donaueschingen in 1945, just before the end of World War II, Anselm Kiefer grew up amidst the ruins of war, an experience that profoundly shaped his artistic vision. The son of a German art teacher, Kiefer's early environment was marked by the devastation of his city, which had been heavily bombed during the conflict. In 1951, his family relocated to Ottersdorf, and he later attended public school in Rastatt, graduating high school in 1965. Initially, Kiefer pursued pre-law and Romance languages at the University of Freiburg, but he soon shifted his focus to art, studying at the art academies in Freiburg and Karlsruhe, where he graduated with a degree in 1969. In 1971, Kiefer established a studio in Hornbach (Walldürn) and remained in the Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis until 1992. This period is known as The German Years, reflecting his deep engagement with German cultural and historical themes. In 1992, Kiefer moved to Barjac in France, leaving behind his first wife and children. He lived in Paris from 2008 with his second wife, Austrian photographer Renate Graf, until their divorce in 2014. Kiefer was recognized as one of Germany's wealthiest individuals in 2017 by Manager Magazin. He is also the subject of the 3D documentary film Anselm (2023), directed by Wim Wenders.
Kiefer's work is deeply rooted in traditional mythology, literature, and the exploration of existential themes. His early inspirations included literary figures like Paul Celan and Ingeborg Bachmann, while his later works integrate Judeo-Christian, ancient Egyptian, and Oriental elements. Central to his artistic exploration is cosmogony, reflecting a quest for understanding existence and representing the incomprehensible. Kiefer's artistic process involves a "spiritual connection" with his materials, transforming them through various physical and chemical processes. His use of lead, which he initially encountered while repairing pipes, reflects his fascination with alchemy and its symbolic resonance. Straw, another material he frequently employs, symbolizes energy and transformation. Kiefer values the balance between order and chaos in his work, emphasizing the importance of the environment in which his pieces are displayed.
His career began with performances documented in photographs, notably Occupations and Heroische Sinnbilder (Heroic Symbols), where he provocatively mimicked Nazi salutes in various locations. His first solo exhibition in 1969 featured controversial political actions. Over the years, Kiefer has become renowned for his grand-scale paintings, often incorporating lead, glass, and plant materials to create textured, impasto surfaces. His works frequently engage with themes from German mythology and literature, as well as historical and cosmic motifs. In the 1980s, Kiefer's art became more physical and sculptural, expanding to include references to ancient history, occult symbolism, and the trauma of societies. His cycle of paintings from 1995 to 2001 explored cosmic themes, while his 20 Years of Solitude piece, a monumental stack of white-painted ledgers and handmade books, is known for its provocative use of the artist's semen. Kiefer's later works include sculptures and paintings that engage with diverse cultural and historical references. His exhibitions at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac and White Cube in London, as well as his monumental installations at the Louvre and Grand Palais, highlight his ongoing engagement with history, mythology, and art's role in society. Since 1969, Kiefer has also been involved in book design, using lead, paint, and minerals to create layered, symbolic works. His extensive studios, including the transformed silk factory in Barjac, France, reflect his commitment to creating immersive artistic environments. In 2008, Kiefer relocated to Paris, leaving behind his Barjac studio, which remains a significant part of his artistic legacy.
Iconic Artworks
Anselm Kiefer's oeuvre is marked by a series of iconic works that reflect his profound engagement with history, mythology, and the human condition. One of his early masterpieces, The Second Sinful Fall of Parmenides (1969), demonstrates his pioneering approach to blending oil on canvas with philosophical depth, exploring themes of decay and transformation. His 1969 bound book, You're a Painter, and the compelling Pages from "Occupations" (1969) showcase his interest in the interplay between text and image, reinforcing his conceptual approach. The German Line of Spiritual Salvation (1975) and Every Human Being Stands beneath His Own Dome of Heaven (1970) reveal his mastery of watercolor, while the large-scale pieces such as Quaternity (1973) and Father, Son, Holy Ghost (1973) exemplify his use of charcoal and oil on burlap to create monumental and spiritually charged works. Kiefer's exploration of historical and cultural narratives is also evident in Operation Winter Storm (1975) and The Lake of Gennesaret (1974), where he employs oil, shellac, and other materials to evoke a sense of historical weight and apocalyptic vision. His later works, including Ways of Worldly Wisdom (1976–77) and Siegfried Forgets Brunhildea (1975), continue to push the boundaries of materiality and symbolism, cementing Kiefer's status as a pivotal figure in contemporary art.
Exhibition History
Anselm Kiefer's career has been marked by numerous significant exhibitions that highlight his influential role in contemporary art. He began with his first solo show at Galerie am Kaiserplatz in Karlsruhe in 1969, and his prominence grew as he represented Germany alongside Georg Baselitz at the Venice Biennale in 1980. Kiefer's work has been the focus of major solo exhibitions at esteemed institutions such as the Kunsthalle Düsseldorf (1984), Art Institute of Chicago (1987), and Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin (1991). Notable retrospectives include those at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (1998), Fondation Beyeler in Basel (2001), and the Royal Academy of Arts in London (2014). His ambitious installation projects include the "Monumenta" at the Grand Palais in Paris (2007), and the site-specific work at the Louvre, where he became the first living artist since Georges Braque to create a permanent installation. Kiefer also reconfigured the First Baptist Church of Los Angeles for his monumental Palmsonntag (2006) and later adapted it for the Art Gallery of Ontario in 2010. In 2013, he opened a long-term installation at the Hall Art Foundation and MASS MoCA, featuring significant sculptures and paintings. His 70th birthday was celebrated with a major retrospective at the Centre Pompidou, Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, and the Museum der bildenden Künste in Leipzig (2015). In 2016, the Albertina in Vienna showcased his woodcuts, further cementing his legacy. Most recently, Kiefer unveiled his first public art commission in the United States at Rockefeller Center in May 2018, with the Uraeus sculpture, inspired by Egyptian religious symbols and Friedrich Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra.
Anselm Kiefer has received numerous prestigious awards and honors throughout his career, underscoring his impact on contemporary art. In 1990, he was awarded the Wolf Prize, and in 1999, he received the Praemium Imperiale for his lifetime achievements, recognized for his complex engagement with history and his use of art to address ethical questions and cultural trauma. He was also honored with the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade in 2008, becoming the first visual artist to receive this award. His accolades extend to several honorary doctorates, including those from the University of Turin, University of St Andrews, University of Antwerp, and the Brera Academy. Kiefer has been recognized with significant awards such as the J. Paul Getty Medal (2017) and the Knight Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2023). His creative process, which involves the use of alchemical materials like lead, shellac, and straw, reflects his fascination with transformation and energy. This interest is mirrored in his art market success, where his works, such as To the Unknown Painter (1983), have set new records at auction. Kiefer's works are housed in major public collections worldwide, including the Hamburger Bahnhof in Berlin, the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Tate Modern in London, and the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, among others. Notable private collectors include Eli Broad and Andrew J. Hall.
Selena Mattei
