Discovering Germany's Contemporary Artists

German artists' creativity can be found throughout their country; unlike in other nations where one city dominates and siphons off creativity from elsewhere. A show in Bremen or Essen may gain just as much renown as one in Berlin.

"To name prominent German artists such as Georg Baselitz, Anselm Kiefer and Sigmar Polke is like reading an index of contemporary art.

The future of German art is bright

German artists are well known for creating groundbreaking work. Their ability to master the technical skill and anatomical accuracy allowed them to depict an extensive variety of subjects ranging from animals, landscapes and portraiture through biblical themes. Albrecht Durer of Bavaria was an artistic pioneer of his time, creating woodcuts, paintings and copper engravings with impeccable tonal contrast and proportional accuracy. Durer often included spiritual imagery in his figurative compositions. Germany became an artistic hub during the 19th Century, driven by Munich's Blue Rider group. They took Munch's symbolist intensity into an explosion of raw color that presaged modernist ideas combined with traditional techniques - eventually giving rise to abstract painting pioneered by immigrant Wassily Kandinsky.

After World War II, German art struggled to find its identity again. Socialist Realism predominated in East Germany while in West Germany many artists explored avant-garde movements like Abstract Expressionism, Pop art and minimalism. Joseph Beuys' sculpture, performance and installation art challenged what was considered high art; his use of materials like fat and felt demonstrated this approach to postmodern art a decade ahead of its time.

Gerhard Richter was another figure who catapulted German art into international prominence during the 1970s with his photographic-based works. These intricately executed pieces blurred boundaries between photography and painting media, foreshadowing postmodern art's challenge to traditional forms.

German artists have long been at the forefront of contemporary art. Mikail Akar, for instance, who resides in New York uses gritty collage and illustrative printmaking techniques to craft his cutting-edge works. Akar's vibrant compositions take their cues from both traditional German painting and street art while his nods to famous artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat demonstrate his neo-expressionist aesthetic.

Germany is a hotbed of contemporary art

Since World War II, Germany has emerged as an epicenter of culture with cities such as Dusseldorf and Cologne being prominent cultural centers. Additionally, some of the world's most revered artists continue to contribute cutting-edge paintings, sculptures and photography works that continue to transform it.

German art's triumph lies in its refusal to forget past horrors and in its ability to reconstruct what had been destroyed. Some of Germany's most striking works, from Friedrich's landscape paintings to Klee's Angelus Novus are imbued with this angelic spirit of reconstructing what was lost.

Modern artists and collectors across the globe have recently rediscovered this unique legacy, rediscovering many of Germany's iconic artists as relevant works that echo today's political uncertainty and conflict - the boldness of these works is particularly impressive today.

Artists such as Dix and Kiefer have delved deeply into Germany's Nazi past through their art. They depicted scenes such as swastikas (railway tracks leading to concentration camps) as well as the gas chambers at Auschwitz. Other artists, like Richter and Polke have used their works to express a disillusionment with German society at large.

Other contemporary artists have chosen to celebrate the positive aspects of German history and culture instead. Berlin-based street artist KEF! uses his work as an act of spiritual practice - his illustrative prints such as Cycleme combine monochromatic lines with flowing organic forms inspired by nature, philosophy and Buddhism ideology.

Other emerging and established German artists have turned to abstraction as a response to today's political environment. Bae Garding Schubert's expressive abstract painting Immer Wenn Du Denkst Es Geht Nicht Mehr conveys an atmospheric skyscape with gentle rays of light breaking through clouds to spark hopefulness.

Don't miss out on the latest trends in German art

Staying current with Germany's art scene requires keeping abreast of current trends and movements. For instance, during the 19th century the Jugendstil (German for Art Nouveau) movement made significant contributions to both German design and the applied arts - this style blended elegance and fantasy in an effort to combine all forms into one Gesamtkunstwerk.

An intriguing trend worth keeping an eye out for in German art is the embrace of figuration. This movement has garnered widespread interest both inside and outside Germany, inspiring major art movements such as abstract painting and narration as narrative forms of expression.

Modern German artists have often been at the forefront of various international art trends. For instance, German painters associated with Expressionism highlighted a raw expressive use of paint that challenged traditional forms of representation - this art eventually inspired subsequent movements such as Pop Art and Neo-Expressionism.

Other examples of innovative art include Georg Baselitz, Anselm Kiefer, Sigmar Polke and Rosemarie Trockel's works, which showcase diverse subjects and temperaments while often blurring the line between photography and painting, addressing key social issues in today's society.

Germany's art scene is captivating and dynamic. There is much to discover here, from pioneers of minimalist and conceptual art such as Carl Andre, Sol LeWitt and Bruce Nauman to its rich artistic tradition that continues to draw global interest.

Explore the cutting-edge art scene in Berlin

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, many artists from New York and London relocated to Germany's capital. Coupled with its subculture developed to cope with life under Stasi surveillance, Berlin emerged as a unique force within its art scene.

Berlin was transformed once the wall fell, as its once-divided quarters quickly transformed into an urban playing field that could be reconfigured at will. This enabled the development of synergies that gradually surfaced over time; Prenzlauer Berg became an attraction for artists like Tomas Saraceno, Douglas Gordon and Tacita Dean; its gallery scene flourished alongside increasingly influential international galleries as well as events and exhibitions being hosted here.

City gallery neighborhoods are rapidly developing and gentrifying, as new exhibition spaces open their doors seemingly every week. Even powerhouse galleries such as Esther Schipper Gallery and Johnen Galerie announced their intent to merge earlier this year - two examples being Esther Schipper and Johnen Galerie respectively.

Berlin continues to attract some of today's brightest young artists. While the city's contemporary landscape may change rapidly, Berlin remains true to its core artistic values: experimentation and an affinity toward avant-garde art forms such as Gerhard Richter's fuzzified realism or Candida Hofer's empty social spaces or MadC's expansive spray-paint murals. Artists making an impression in Berlin share one common thread - confronting major historical changes with their works, thus leaving an imprint upon our culture as they make themselves known and leave their mark upon our culture forever.

Discover the hidden gems of German Modern Art

From its earliest known work of figurative art to modern day paintings and designs influenced by German traditions, Germany has long held an integral place in art history. We will explore its rich tradition of painting, sculpture and design as we uncover how its influence continues to shape modern art across the globe.

As Germany emerges from postwar ruins, its artists are doing an astounding job of rebuilding its cultural identity - as Gunter Grass put it, "a renaissance in reverse." To name only some contemporary German artists - Georg Baselitz, Anselm Kiefer, Sigmar Polke and Gerhard Richter among them - is like reading an entry for every prominent art world figure alive today.

Modernism in Germany has left an incredible legacy, one that serves to inspire current German artists.

From World War I's conclusion until Nazi rule, German art underwent an unprecedented blossoming. One prominent trend during this era was Neue Sachlichkeit or New Objectivity - an attempt at naturalism which depicted everyday realities across a turbulent nation. At its center was Neue Sachlichkeit's depiction of desperate prostitutes, crippled war veterans, alienated urban landscapes, as well as its connection to modernist painting that led to an extraordinary group of modernist painters.

Some years later, German modernism started to lose steam as artists broke free from Neoclassical forms favored by its art academies and began experimenting with abstract forms - many adopting Cubism and Expressionist painting styles as well.