Georg Baselitz at Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice, first exhibition of a living artist at Venetian museum

Opening from May 8 to September 8, 2019, is the Baselitz - Academy, a solo exhibition by Georg Baselitz (Hans-Georg Rem; Kamenz, 1938) at the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice: although this is not the first time for a contemporary artist in the Venetian museum, it is nevertheless the first exhibition by a living artist. The exhibition is a major retrospective, curated by Kosme de Barañano, which examines the German master’s work in relation to the Italian art-historical tradition and the legacy of the academy. During his formative years, Baselitz won a six-month scholarship and left Germany to live and work at the Villa Romana, in Florence: during this period, which was fundamental to his experience, his gaze turned especially toItalian Renaissance art and the work of Giovanni di Paolo, Rosso Fiorentino and Jacopo da Pontormo.

A passionate and profound connoisseur of art history, Baselitz repeatedly focused his research on the work of the Old Masters. This exhibition highlights this interest and at the same time draws attention to the artist’s extraordinary influence on contemporary painting, including his iconic subject reversals that deconstruct the tradition of portraiture. The exhibition, which features Baselitz’s paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures, winds its way through the seven rooms on the first floor, the ones that the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice reserves for exhibitions, and is divided into sections that focus on themes such as Pontormo-inspired drawings, upside-down portraits and impressive large-scale nude paintings. And again, the nude room presents the public with works that have never been exhibited together before.

“I am happy to have been invited to present my work at the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice,” said the artist. “I know the city and the museum well and it is a pleasure to work with Kosme de Barañano on a highly original project.” The curator, in turn, comments by explaining that “Georg Baselitz is one of the most significant artists of the second part of the 20th century and tackles the great theme of painting not by reducing it to its essence but rather by attacking its convention. We are excited to collaborate together again. Baselitz has close ties to Italy, having visited it often in the past and established a studio there for some time. The exhibition will reflect the influence Italy has had on his work through the years.”

Paola Marini, former director of the Gallerie dell’Accademia, said, “After the success of Philip Guston’s 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 Italian art history present in the Galleries.”

Giovanni Panebianco, Secretary General of MiBAC and Director of the Gallerie dell’Accademia, said, “This event bears significant witness to the Museum’s commitment to continuing along that path of dialogue with the contemporary art sector, which has already been underway for some years. The exhibition is a tribute to Georg Baselitz, one of the most innovative and influential artists of the last fifty years, who is intimately linked to the city of Venice, where he has presented his works several times at the Biennale Arte beginning with the 1980 edition, when he participated with his first provocative and highly original sculpture.”

The exhibition can be visited during museum opening hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 8:15 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. and Mondays from 8:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets: internal 15 euros until July 14, 12 euros from July 15; concessions 2 euros (for 18 to 25 year olds), plus 1.50 exhibition integration fee until July 14. For info visit www.gallerieaccademia.it.

Source: press release

Georg Baselitz at Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice, first exhibition of a living artist at Venetian museum

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