Institutions, Venice
Georg Baselitz
Baselitz – Academy
Gallerie dell'AccademiaBaselitz – Academy, a major retrospective of works by the renowned German artist Georg Baselitz, will be the first exhibition by a living artist to be presented at the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice. The exhibition is a Collateral Event of the 58th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. The exhibition, curated by Professor Kosme de Barañano, will trace the periods and critical junctures in the artist’s extraordinary 60-year career through paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures. A special feature of the exhibition will be a cycle of rarely seen works exploring Baselitz’s relationship with Italy and the academic tradition. Georg Baselitz said: “I am delighted to have been invited to present my work at the Accademia in Venice. I have known the city and museum well for many years and am delighted to work with Kosme de Barañano to present a show that we hope will offer something different.” Kosme de Barañano, curator of the exhibition, said: “Georg Baselitz is one of the most significant artists of the second half of the twentieth century. He confronts the great theme of painting not by reducing it to its essence but rather by attacking the convention itself. We are thrilled to work together again. Baselitz has often visited and has kept a studio in Italy for quite some time, and the exhibition will reflect how Italy has impacted his work over the years.” Paola Marini, former Director of the Gallerie, said: “After the success of the Philip Guston exhibition in 2017, we are pleased to continue the journey by presenting the work of a contemporary master, Georg Baselitz, whose work has been profoundly influenced by the encounter with the history of Italian art present at the Gallerie dell’Accademia.” Giovanni Panebianco, Secretary General of MiBAC and Director of the Gallerie dell’Accademia, said: “This exhibition demonstrates the Gallerie dell’Accademia’s commitment to placing itself at the centre, not only of the illustrious tradition of Venetian painting, but also opening up to the most significant events of the international contemporary art world. In this spirit, we have chosen to dedicate an exhibition to Georg Baselitz, one of the most innovative living artists of the last 50 years.” The exhibition, supported by Gagosian, will be accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue. Baselitz was born in 1938 in Deutschbaselitz, Germany, and lives between Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy. He has exhibited extensively internationally, including highly acclaimed exhibitions at the Fondation Beyeler and the Kunstmuseum in Basel.