Georg Baselitz

Georg Baselitz was born Hans-Georg Kern on January 23, 1938, in Deutschbaselitz, in what was later East Germany. In 1956, Baselitz moved to East Berlin where he studied painting. After being expelled for 'socio-political immaturity', he studied from 1957 to 62 in West Berlin. During this period, he adopted the surname Baselitz, taken from the name of his birthplace. In searching for alternatives to Socialist Realism and Art Informel, he became interested in anamorphosis and in the art of the mentally ill.
In 1966, he began to make woodcuts and started a series of fracture paintings of rural motifs. During this time, he also painted his first pictures in which the subject is upside down, in an effort to overcome the representational, content-driven character of his earlier work.
In 1980, his reputation established, Baselitz was chosen to represent Germany at the Venice Biennale.

Baselitz belongs to the most famous artists of contemporary modern art worldwide.
The artist lives and works in Ammersee and Imperia Italy.

Photo: ©Erling Mandelmann