A.R. Penck

A.R. Penck

Born in:

1939–2017

Nationality:

German

Birthplace:

Dresden, Germany

Based in:

Dresden, Germany

Biography:

Considered a Neo-Expressionist along with artists such as Sigmar Polke and Anselm Kiefer, A.R. Penck is best known for his paintings and sculptures characterized by simplified figures and forms, and neo-primitive symbols and patterns. Born Ralf Winkler, the artist adopted his pseudonym after reading the work of the geologist Albrecht Penck. A.R. Penck lived in East Berlin from 1963 to ’72; unable to exhibit there publicly, he smuggled works out to West Berlin and Switzerland, where he enjoyed enough fame to provide him some protection from the German police. Penck’s style fused spontaneous self-expression with restraint, and pop cultural and art historical influences with political and social concerns. As a sculptor, he was constructing objects as early as the ’60s made from cardboard boxes, slats, used bottles, and tinfoil and later, in the ’80s, he made sometimes-monumental wooden sculptures. Penck was also a jazz musician and published theoretical writings, sometimes juxtaposing or interspersing them with poems. He worked collaboratively at various times with the West German artist Jorg Immendorff.




Island Saga

1997


Acrylic on canvas


50 × 60 cm



Untitled

1939


Chalk drawing on paper


41 X 32,5 cm



Untitled

1988-1992


Acrylic on paper


28 × 21 cm



Folge und Konsequenz

1991


Acrylic over silkscreen on canvas


130 × 160 cm



Uber dem Adler-Raum

2000


Mixed media on light cardboard


40 x 30 cm



Ohne Titel

1993–1996


Acrylic on heavy rag paper


77 x 57 cm



Untitled

1990


Colored pencil on woven paper


40 x 30 cm



Herabsteigender I

2000


Gouache and watercolor on handmade paper


57.78 x 80.42 cm



Standart 99

1999


Oil on canvas.


80 x 55 cm



Man, Scorpio at night

1993


Oil on canvas


30 × 40 cm



Untitled

1990


Colored pencil on paper


28 × 21 cm



„Durch den Adler hindurch 1“

2002


Gouache and colored pencil on paper


41 × 56 cm