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Gerhard Richter Archive
Gerhard Richter is one of the most significant artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. His oeuvre covers a period of nearly five decades. For several years now, the artist has had a special relationship with his native city of Dresden. Since February 2006 the Gerhard Richter Archive has been in existence as an institution of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden. It was established with the generous support of Gerhard Richter and works in close collaboration with the artist’s Cologne studio.
For the Albertinum, the artist is fitting out two exhibition rooms with his works. One room provides an overview of his work so far, including the 1964 painting “Portrait of Dr. Knobloch (41)”, which was purchased by the Gerhard Richter Archive, whilst in the other room new glass works created specifically for Dresden are presented.
The Gerhard Richter Archive is intended as a centre for research and communication concerning the works of this artist and as such it collects and documents all books, catalogues, journals and articles, photographs, videos and CDs that are published about Gerhard Richter or contain relevant information and contributions about him and his artistic context. An important section of the Archive’s holdings contains unpublished writings and documents, correspondence and photographs. In addition, the Gerhard Richter Archive works both independently and in cooperation with other institutions to organise exhibitions and symposia, and it is also producing its own series of publications. The most important research project is the compilation and publication of an academic catalogue raisonné of all of Gerhard Richter’s paintings and sculptures, which will be richly illustrated and will include information about provenance, exhibitions and literature.
Extensive information on Gerhard Richter's works of art, an exhibition directory and a bibliography as well as a video documentation can be found at:
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Holdings
Books, catalogues, articles: All catalogues relating to solo exhibitions, monographs and doctoral theses concerning Gerhard Richter are held in the Archive. In addition, there are numerous exhibition publications, books and journals containing articles about the artist. In particular, the collection of early catalogues and articles from the 1960s and 1970s is practically exhaustive.
Documents: The Gerhard Richter Archive currently holds approximately 500 letters, manuscripts and other writings, most of which originate from the artist's studio and document, above all, Gerhard Richter’s relationships with his galleries and his Dresden friends in the 1960s and early 1970s.
Press materials: The Archive holds approximately 12.000 exhibition reviews and press references dating from between 1962 and the present day. These provide insight into the development of the reception of Gerhard Richter’s oeuvre.
Photographs: The photographic archive consists of 12.000 photos. Next to photos of his works, there are also portrait photos, photos of works in progress and of paintings which were later destroyed, views of his studio and photos documenting exhibitions, as well as preparatory photos for later paintings of the artist.
Posters / invitations: The Gerhard Richter Archive holds approximately 600 posters, invitation cards and flyers relating to exhibitions by the artist from the early 1960s onwards.
Films / videos: Meanwhile, the Archive has collected 250 media carriers that contain exhibition reports and detailed film portraits about Gerhard Richter.
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Catalogue raisonné
The Gerhard Richter Archive is preparing an expanded and updated edition of the catalogue raisonné (Werkverzeichnis) of the paintings and sculptures of Gerhard Richter which was published in 1986. It will be published in five volumes starting in 2011. Please find more information about the first volume and the following ones on the publisher's flyer.
Lavishly illustrated with full-page reproductions of all works, the catalogue includes full technical details, information about the artist’s handwritten notes, provenance, bibliography, and exhibitions for each individual work. The comprehensive descriptions of the works are supplemented by artist statements, commentary, and comparative images.
In this connection, the Gerhard Richter Archive is looking for further collectors who own or have owned works by Gerhard Richter. If this applies to you we would be very grateful if you could contact us. We can, of course, guarantee that your personal information will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Gerhard Richter Archiv
Dr. Dietmar Elger
Albertinum
Tzschirnerplatz 2
01067 Dresden
Tel: +49 (0)351 – 49 14 7770
Fax: +49 (0)351 – 49 14 9732
Email: dietmar.elger@skd.museum -
Visiting the Archive
The Gerhard Richter Archive provides students and academics who are studying the artist with access to all its holdings. Two work spaces are available during normal office opening hours. There are no fixed opening times; instead, it is necessary to register in advance by telephone or in writing.
Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Gerhard Richter Archiv
Dr. Dietmar Elger
Albertinum
Tzschirnerplatz 2
01067 Dresden
Tel: +49 (0)351 – 49 14 7770
Fax: +49 (0)351 – 49 14 9732
Email: dietmar.elger@skd.museum -
Biography
1932
born in Dresden, February 9. Grows up in Reichenau and
Waltersdorf, Oberlausitz/Saxony.1948
leaves school after 10th grade with a certificate of graduation
from the business school in Zittau.1949
apprenticeship as an advertising painter.1950
stage-set painter in the Stadttheater in Zittau, applies to the
Dresden Art Academy, but is rejected, begins a job painting
at the DEWAG in Zittau.1951
accepted at the Dresden Art Academy.1953
main study in the mural painting class with Prof. Heinz Lohma.1956
recieves diploma with the mural at the Deutsches Hygienemuseum Dresden, becomes a master student and is given
a studio at the Dresden Art Academy for three years.1959
visits the documenta 2 exhibition in Kassel.1961
escape from East Germany, study at the Art Academy in
Düsseldorf with K.O. Götz
1962
friendship with Konrad Lueg (= Konrad Fischer) and Sigmar Polke1964
finishes his study, first solo shows in the galleries Friedrich &
Dahlem, Munich and Galerie Schmela, Dusseldorf.1967
visiting professor at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste,
Hamburg, is awarded the art price "Junger Westen" by the
German city of Recklinghausen.1970
Gerhard Richter and Blinky Palermo travel to New York.1971
professor at Dusseldorf Art Academy.1978
visiting professor at the Nova Scotia College of Art in Halifax.1981
is awarded the Arnold Bode Prize in Kassel.1983
moves to Cologne.1985
is awarded the Oskar Kokoschka Prize in Vienna.1988
guest professor at the Städelschule, Frankfurt/Main, is awarded
the Kaiserring of the city of Goslar
1994
ends of teaching at the Duesseldorf Art Academy1995
receives the Wolf Prize in Arts, Jerusalem.1996
moves to a new studio in the outskirts of Cologne.1997
is awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale, receives the
Praemium Imperiale Price, Tokyo.1998
receives the Wexner Prize, Columbus, OH.2000
receives the Staatspreis of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.2001
honorary doctorate from the University Leuven2004
opening of three rooms with art works by Gerhard Richter in the
Dresden Albertinum.2007
granting of the honorary citizenship of the city of Cologne,
dedication of the south transept window designed by Gerhard
Richter in the cathedral of Cologne.2010
reopening of the Albertinum with two rooms with works by
Gerhard Richter.
2011
retrospective "Panorama" at the Tate Modern, London
2012
exhibition "Atlas" at the Kunsthalle im Lipsiusbau, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
retrospective "Panorama" at the Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin and at the Musée National d'art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris
Gerhard Richter lives and works in Cologne.