Markus Luepertz (born on April 25, 1941 in Reichenberg, now Liberec, in Bohemia/Czech Republic) is a German painter, sculptor and graphic artist.
Markus Lüpertz is known for his contributions to Neo-Expressionism and his significant influence on contemporary art.
Markus Lüpertz is considered one of the most important and influential artists to emerge from post-war Germany. Today he lives and works in Berlin, Karlsruhe, Düsseldorf and Florence. He has his studio in Teltow. He is married and has five children, three of them with his current wife Dunja Lüpertz. His daughter Anna Jill Lüpertz is now a gallery owner herself in Berlin. Today, Markus Lüpertz is best known for his bronze sculptures.
Markus Lüpertz was born on April 25, 1941 in Liberec, Bohemia (now the Czech Republic). In 1948, his family moved to Rheydt, Germany. The experiences of his early life in post-war Germany had a profound influence on his artistic vision. Lüpertz studied at the Werkkunstschule Krefeld from 1956 to 1961 and later at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, a renowned art academy in Germany.
Markus Lüpertz began his career in the 1960s and initially worked in abstraction, but soon developed an unmistakable style characterized by bold, expressive forms and a strong use of color. He is often associated with Neo-Expressionism, a movement that emerged in the late 1970s and 1980s and is known for its return to figurative art and emotional intensity. Lüpertz’s works often depict distorted figures and mythological themes, often executed as sculpture.
He is one of the most important representatives of the so-called “Neue Wilde”, an art movement that emerged in Germany in the 1980s. Lüpertz is best known for his diverse forms of artistic expression, including painting, sculpture, graphic art and poetry. His work is characterized by an often expressive and experimental approach to art. Lüpertz can look back on an impressive career and his works can be found in many renowned museums and collections worldwide. Markus Lüpertz was rector of the State Academy of Art in Düsseldorf from 1988-2009.
In the late 1960s, Lüpertz developed his “dithyrambic” paintings, a term he coined to describe his dynamic and rhythmic compositions inspired by the ancient Greek dithyrambs (songs sung in honor of Dionysus). He is also famous for his sculptural works, which are often monumental in scale and explore classical themes with a modern twist, characterized by rough, textured surfaces and dramatic forms.
Outstanding works of art by Markus Lüpertz include “The Greek Cycle” (1970s): A series of paintings that reinterpret ancient Greek mythology and figures through a contemporary lens.
“Helmet Heads” (1970s): A series of paintings and sculptures featuring helmeted figures symbolizing heroism and the human condition.
“Arcadia” (1980s-1990s): A series of works that combine classical motifs with modern expressionism and revisit the theme of Arcadia, an idyllic and mythological landscape.
Lüpertz was director of the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf from 1988 to 2009 and influenced a new generation of artists. He has also completed numerous public commissions, including large-scale sculptures and installations in Germany and abroad.
Markus Lüpertz has also designed stage sets and sculptures since 1980. In 1989, he created the figure of Apollo for a niche in the Alte Oper in Frankfurt. This figure shows Apollo, whose right arm is bent and grasping his left shoulder as he reaches for an arrow. A total of six of these were cast. In Karlsruhe on Bannwaldallee is the bridge sculpture “Die Hässliche erschrifkt die Schöne” from 1990. In Kantstraße in Berlin is “Der gestürzte Krieger”, a 3.00 meter long bronze of a fallen warrior with helmet and shield. An ensemble of three sculptures was erected in the park of Bensberg Palace in 2000. In 2001, the bronze “The Philosopher” was placed in the foyer of the new Federal Chancellery in Berlin; it is a monumental female sculpture from 1998. Lüpertz designed it as a nude figure and thus brought the iconography of allegorized philosophy into surprising contact with the allegory of “naked truth”. Also in 2001, Lüpertz received the commission for the sculpture “Daphne”, three examples of which were cast in 2003. In Lüpertz’s work, Daphne becomes the triumphant heroine and victor over Apollo.
The theme continued to occupy the artist even after completing the monumental sculpture. The bronze-cast bozzetti show the merging of sculpture, painting and drawing and thus represent the overcoming of genre-specific creation and artistic thinking.
In 2005, Lüpertz installed the eagle in the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe and the sculpture “Mozart – A Homage” in Salzburg. This was followed two years later by the Mercurius in front of the Post Tower in Bonn and in 2009 by an Apollo on Elisabethenplatz in Bamberg. Gerhard Schröder, a friend of Lüpertz, gave the laudatory speech at the unveiling of the 1.88-metre-high Apollo on May 4, 2009. At the feet of the Apollo lies a small lyre by which he can be recognized. This Apollo is an example of Lüpertz’s exploration of classical-antique design principles and shows the pose of standing leg-playing leg. The painting of the bronze is also reminiscent of Greek and Roman times. At the same time, Lüpertz quotes design principles from Cubist, Expressionist and African art in his works of art. His sculptures reflect the simplicity of the archaic, whereby Lüpertz remains true to traditional methods: Only the unconscious could be new. According to Lüpertz, the means of representation should remain conventional in terms of craftsmanship, as otherwise the unconscious would be deprived of space. This is why Lüpertz had almost all of his sculptures cast in bronze, as this material accommodates the expression of classical beauty, even though his figures superficially appear partially destroyed and damaged. The Dionysian is combined with the Apollonian, and the viewer senses the “divine cruelty” that is still conceived as a unity in the archaic.
Lüpertz is widely respected in the art world for his bold and innovative approach to painting and sculpture. His sculptures are known for their emotional depth, technical mastery and intellectual complexity. As a teacher and mentor, he has had a decisive influence on contemporary German art, extending his influence to his students and the wider art world. His works are exhibited at the Museum Ludwig in Cologne, the Albertina in Vienna and the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C., among others.
Known for his charismatic and sometimes controversial personality, Markus Lüpertz often holds strong opinions on art and culture, making him a polarizing figure in the art world. Despite his sometimes provocative personality, he is active in the art scene and frequently participates in exhibitions, lectures and public discussions.
Markus Lüpertz’s work continues to be celebrated for its powerful aesthetics and intellectual rigor, securing his place as a significant figure in the history of contemporary art.
Stained glass windows by Markus Lüpertz
In addition to his bronze sculptures, Markus Lüpertz has also made a name for himself with the design of several church windows. From 1989 to 1990, he created windows for the French cathedral Saint-Cyr-et-Sainte-Julitte in Nevers. In 2007, seven stained glass windows were completed for the Maccabees’ Choir in the south transept of the Dominican Church of St. Andrew in Cologne, and in 2010, five windows were completed in the north choir of St. Mary’s opposite. Markus Lüpertz also designed the windows for St. Mary’s Church in Lübeck.
In 2012, designs for seven windows for the village church in Landsberg-Gütz were presented.
In 2016, Lüpertz was commissioned to design two windows for the Protestant Marienkirche in Lippstadt. These are an addition to the partially destroyed Luther window from 1883 and a newly created window to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The so-called Reformation window shows an abstract person and is intended to symbolize the reformer in everyone. The church window is subtitled with the song line “Der Himmel geht über allen auf” by Wilhelm Willms and was officially presented to the congregation on November 12, 2017.
In this context, the artist described painting with light as one of the most beautiful and exhilarating moments. The church is a place that preserves art for centuries, because works cannot simply be hung up like in a museum. Markus Lüpertz sees his church windows as contemporary art, but they are the result of a confrontation with and experience of tradition.
A cycle of eight stained glass windows was created between 2019 and 2022 for the Elisabethenkapelle chapel in Bamberg, which has been documented since 1330 and dedicated to Elisabeth of Thuringia since 1404. It depicts scenes from the life of the saint in connection with the seven works of mercy from the Bible. The idea for this decoration with the new windows was born during the inauguration of the Marksu Lüpertz sculpture “Apollo” in front of the chapel.
The artist created another Reformation window for Hannover’s Marktkirche St. Georgii et Jacobi with a height of 13 meters. Its motif was the subject of controversial debate, but it has since become a magnet for visitors. The window was inaugurated on Reformation Day 2023 as part of a festive church service.
Regensburg has also had new church windows in St. Ulrich’s since July 2023, designed by Markus Lüpertz. The new stained glass windows are the first exhibits in the Regensburg diocese’s newly designed St. Ulrich Museum, which will open in 2026 as a special location in the museum quarter at the cathedral.
The previous auction record for works of art by Markus Lüpertz is 292,800 euros for the six Pietrasanta bronzes, sold at the Lempertz auction house in cologne in May 2014. The most expensive painting by Markus Lüpertz was sold at Christies Auctions in London on October 22, 2020 in the Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Sale. The painting that was sold in the auction was titled “Arrangement for a Cap I- dithyrambic” with the provenance Galerie Michael Werner. It achieved the previous auction record for Markus Lüpertz with 300,000 British pounds or around 350,000 euros.
Soloshows and Exhibitions (selection):
2024
Markus Lüpertz Erfindung und Wahrheit – Ausstellung im Ostholstein-Museum Eutin
2023
Markus Lüpertz: Kirchenfenster, Skizzen und Studien Kirchenfenster in St. Andreas Köln
Markus Lupertz: – EYE OF THE COLLECTOR, London, United Kingdom.
Et in Arcadia ego, Michael Werner, New York, USA.
„Markus the Painter or the Ratio of the Impossible“, VITO SCHNABEL GALLERY – OLD SANTA MONICA POST OFFICE, Los Angeles, USA.
2022
Markus Lüpertz: La Boheme, Entwürfe, Skizzen und Studien zum Bühnenbild und zu den Kostümen für die Oper La Boheme im Staatstheater Meiningen
2021
Markus Lüpertz: Der göttliche Funke II, Entwürfe und Skizzen zu Kirchenfenstern in St. Ulrich in Regensburg
2019
Markus Lüpertz: Pastelle & Holzschnitte, Skulpturen und Gouachen, Galerie Art Affair, Regensburg
Markus Lüpertz: “Über die Kunst zum Bild” – Ausstellung im Haus der Kunst, München
Markus Lüpertz: “Gänseliesel trifft Leda” – Ausstellung in den Monheimer Kulturwerken
2018
Markus Lüpertz: “Una cosa rara” – Zeichnungen und Entwürfe für das Theater Regensburg, Malerei und Plastik, Galerie Art Affair, Regensburg
Markus Lüpertz: “Der Tod, der bleiche Freier” – Gipse, Skulpturenpark Waldfrieden, Wuppertal
Markus Lüpertz: Tent Paintings, 1965, Mayfair, London
Markus Lüpertz: “DANS L´ATELIER” – Musée de la Vie romantique, Paris
2017
Markus Lüpertz: Phillips Collection, Washington D.C., USA.
Markus Lüpertz: Threads of History. Hirshhorn Museum, Washington D.C.
Markus Lüpertz: ZKM – Zentrum für Kunst und Medien, Karlsruhe
Max Klinger/Markus Lüpertz – Zeitgenössische Kunst. Museum der bildenden Künste, Leipzig
Markus Lüpertz. Studien zu einer Skulptur. Jahn und Jahn, München
2016
Markus Lüpertz. Ein Denkmal für Wilhelm Busch, Schloss Museum Wolfenbüttel
Markus Lüpertz: Avantgarde der Kontinuität, Galerie Knöll und Antikenmuseum Basel
Markus Lüpertz/Andreas Mühe: Ancien Régime 2016, Kunsthalle Rostock
Markus Lüpertz wird 75. Ein Geschenk für das Rheinland, Deutsches Glasmalerei-Museum Linnich
Freezing the Time – Exhibition of Master Markus Lüpertz, China Art Museum, Shanghai
Einblicke. Museum im Kleihues-Bau
Museum Küppersmühle für Moderne Kunst, Duisburg
2015
Une Rétrospective, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
Markus Lüpertz in China, Times Art Museum, Peking
Markus Lüpertz / Arnulf Rainer – Bildende Kunst, Arnulf Rainer Museum, Baden (AUT)
NEUE BILDER in der Galerie VeneKlasen/Werner, Berlin
2014
Player’s Ball, Michael Werner Gallery, London
Matter and Form, Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao
Retrospektive der Bilder, Skulpturen und Texte von 1964 – 2014. Ernst-Barlach Museum, Wedel
Symbols and Metamorphosis. Eremitage, St. Petersburg
Götter und Heilige. Galerie Ohse, Bremen
2012
Sagenhaft – Horst Janssen Museum, Oldenburg
2011
Grafiken und Skulpturen – Kunsthalle Dominikanerkirche, Osnabrück
Galerie Gegenwart, Karlsruhe
Classique hors norme / A Classic and Maverick – Suzanne Tarasiève Galerie, Paris
Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, Den Haag
Sagenhaft – Malerentgegnungen In Zeichnungen, Graphiken Und Skulpturen – Kunsthalle Jesuitenkirche, Aschaffenburg
2010
Herkules – Bozzetti für ein Monument im Ruhrgebiet – Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg
Arbeiten auf Papier/Leinwand, Skulpturen – KUNSTKABINETT, Regensburg
Mythos und Metamorphose – KOG – Kunstforum Ostdeutsche Galerie, Regensburg
Markus Lüpertz. Metamorphosen der Weltgeschichte – Albertina, Wien
Prizes and awards:
2016: Honorary citizen of Liberec.
2013: International Mendelssohn Prize, Leipzig.
2009: Full member of the North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences, Humanities and the Arts.
2006: Doctor honoris causa, Wroclaw.
2004: Julio Gonzalez Prize.
1990: Lovis Corinth Prize, Esslingen.
1971: Prize of the German Critics’ Association.
1970: Prize of the Villa Romana, Florence.