Michael Krebber

Michael Krebber (born 26 April 1954) is a contemporary German painter known for his conceptual approach to painting, often characterized by an emphasis on the medium's limitations, an engagement with art historical references, and a tendency toward minimal gestures. His work is deeply embedded in the discourse of painting's relevance and persistence in contemporary art. Krebber's practice frequently oscillates between production and refusal, challenging conventional artistic expectations.

Early life and education

Michael Krebber was born in 1954 in Cologne, a city that played a significant role in post-war avant-garde art movements. He studied at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, a renowned institution that produced influential contemporary artists. Krebber was significantly influenced by his time as an assistant to the German painter Martin Kippenberger, whose irreverent and provocative artistic approach resonated with Krebber's later explorations of art-making and anti-art tendencies.

Artistic style and approach

Krebber makes enigmatic and elusive conceptual paintings and works on paper. Krebber's work is often described as an intellectual and critical engagement with painting. Rather than adhering to a signature style or thematic consistency, his oeuvre is marked by strategic inconsistencies, nonchalance, and a self-aware approach to artistic production. He frequently employs minimal marks, sparse compositions, and seemingly unfinished gestures, prompting discussions about the purpose and boundaries of painting.

A key aspect of Krebber's work is his rejection of traditional painterly virtuosity, often incorporating elements of doubt, irony, and disengagement. His paintings frequently contain large areas of unpainted canvas, delicate brushstrokes, or seemingly arbitrary marks, emphasizing the idea of painting as a conceptual exercise rather than a purely aesthetic endeavor. This has led critics and scholars to categorize his work within the broader context of "deskilled" painting—a term referring to an intentional avoidance of technical mastery in favor of conceptual rigor.

Krebber's artistic development was heavily influenced by his association with Martin Kippenberger, an artist known for his critical engagement with the art world and its institutions. As Kippenberger's assistant, Krebber was exposed to an irreverent and often subversive approach to art-making, which informed his own skepticism toward grand artistic gestures. However, while Kippenberger often embraced excess and provocation, Krebber's approach tends to be more subdued, relying on absence, restraint, and strategic withholding.

Solo exhibitions

Michael Krebber has exhibited extensively in Europe and the United States. His work has been featured in solo exhibitions at major institutions, including:
* Michael Krebber, Greene Naftali, New York (2024)
* Esprit de Corps, Galerie Buchholz, Cologne, Germany (2023)
* Fondazione Antonio Dalle Nogare, Bolzano, Italy (2021)
* Museum Brandhorst, Munich, Germany (2019)
* Kunsthalle Bern, Switzerland (2017)
* Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art, Porto, Portugal (2016)
* Museum Ludwig, Cologne, Germany (2015)
* CAPC Musée d'art Contemporain, Bordeaux, France (2012)
* Kölnischer Kunstverein, Cologne, Germany (2008)
* Secession, Vienna, Austria (2005)
* Braunschweig Art Association, Braunschweig, Germany (2000)
* Wolfsburg Municipal Gallery, Wolfsburg, Germany (2000)
* Villa Arson, Nice, France (1997)
* Parallax View: New York-Köln, MoMA PS1, New York, NY (1993)

His influence extends beyond his own artistic production; as a professor at the Städelschule in Frankfurt, Krebber has mentored a new generation of artists who continue to explore the tensions between painting and conceptual art.

Legacy and influence

Krebber's work has had a profound impact on contemporary painting, particularly in relation to the "zombie formalism" debate—a term used to critique the revival of abstract painting for commercial purposes without deep conceptual engagement. His legacy lies in his ability to question the necessity of painting while continuing to practice it, making his work an important reference for artists grappling with the medium's relevance in the 21st century.

His subtle and often ambiguous approach has led to varied interpretations, with some viewing his work as a critique of artistic commodification and others as an intellectual game that resists definitive meaning. His influence is particularly evident in younger painters who challenge the boundaries of the medium through conceptual frameworks and self-referential gestures.

Michael Krebber remains a significant figure in contemporary art due to his paradoxical approach to painting—both engaging with and questioning its function. His work challenges viewers and the art world to reconsider the purpose of painting in an era of conceptual saturation, positioning him as one of the most thought-provoking painters of his generation.

Public collections

* Aïshti Foundation, Jal El Dib, Lebanon
* Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
* Bern Art Museum, Bern, Switzerland
* Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
* Hamburger Bahnhof, Hamburg, Germany
* CAPC Musée d'art Contemporain, Bordeaux, France
* Museum Brandhorst, Munich, Germany
* Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA
* Museum Ludwig, Cologne, Germany
* Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
* Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Publications

* Michael Krebber, Catalogue Raisonné, Volume 1, Ed. Sanchez, Michael, Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther und Franz König, Köln, Germany, 2022
* Michael Krebber, The Living Wedge, Part I & II, Serralves, Porto, Portugal; Kunsthalle Bern, Bern, Switzerland, 2017
* Michael Krebber, Les escargots ridiculisés, The ridiculized snails,CAPC musée d'art contemporain de Bordeaux, 2012
* Respekt Frischlinge Je Suis La Chaise London Condom, Galerie Daniel Buchholz, Galerie Chantal Crousel and Maureen Paley, 2008
* Michael Krebber: Puberty in Teaching, Buchhandlung Walther Konig GmbH & Co, 2008
* Michael Krebber, Secession / Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther König, Köln, 2005
* Michael Krebber, Kunstverein Braunschweig / Städtische Galerie Wolfsburg, 2000

Awards

Krebber was awarded the Wolfgang Hahn Prize by the Museum Ludwig, Cologne, in 2015

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Krebber, Michael

1954 births
German male painters
21st-century German painters
21st-century German male artists
German abstract painters
Casualist artists
Living people