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Michael Krebber

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Michael Krebber
Born1954 (age 70–71)
Cologne, Germany
NationalityGerman
Known forPainting

Michael Krebber (born April 26, 1954 in Cologne, lives and works in New York City and Cologne) 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conceptual approach to painting, often characterized by an emphasis on the medium's limitations, an engagement with art historical references, and a tendency toward minimal gestures.[1][2][3] His work is deeply embedded in the discourse of painting’s relevance and persistence in contemporary art.[4][5] Krebber’s practice frequently oscillates between production and refusal, challenging conventional artistic expectations.[6][7]

Early Life and Education

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Michael Krebber was born in 1954 in Cologne, a city that played a significant role in postwar avant-garde art movements.[1] He studied at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, a renowned institution that produced influential contemporary artists.[1] 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.[8]

Artistic Style and Approach

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Krebber makes enigmatic and elusive conceptual paintings and works on paper.[9][10] Krebber's work is often described as an intellectual and critical engagement with painting.[11][12] 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.[13] He frequently employs minimal marks, sparse compositions, and seemingly unfinished gestures, prompting discussions about the purpose and boundaries of painting.[14][15][16]

A key aspect of Krebber’s work is his rejection of traditional painterly virtuosity, often incorporating elements of doubt, irony, and disengagement.[17][18] 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.[19][20] 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.[21]

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.[22][3] 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.[23] However, while Kippenberger often embraced excess and provocation, Krebber’s approach tends to be more subdued, relying on absence, restraint, and strategic withholding.[6][24]

Career and Exhibitions

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Solo Exhibitions

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Michael Krebber has exhibited extensively in Europe and the United States.[25] His work has been featured in solo exhibitions at major institutions[1], including:

  • Michael Krebber, Greene Naftali, New York (2024)[26][27]
  • Esprit de Corps, Galerie Buchholz, Cologne, Germany (2023)[24]
  • Fondazione Antonio Dalle Nogare, Bolzano (2021)[28]
  • Museum Brandhorst, Munich (2019)[29]
  • Kunsthalle Bern, Switzerland (2017)[30]
  • Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art, Porto (2016)[31]
  • Museum Ludwig, Cologne (2015)[32]
  • CAPC Musée d’art Contemporain, Bordeaux (2012)[33][34]
  • Kölnischer Kunstverein, Cologne (2008)[35]
  • Secession, Vienna (2005)[36]
  • Braunschweig Art Association / Wolfsburg Municipal Gallery (2000)[37]
  • Villa Arson, Nice (1997)[38]
  • Parallax View: New York-Köln, MoMA PS1, New York (1993)[39]

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.[40][41]

Legacy and Influence

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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.[42][17][43] 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.[44][45]

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.[46][47] His influence is particularly evident in younger painters who challenge the boundaries of the medium through conceptual frameworks and self-referential gestures.[48][41]

Michael Krebber remains a significant figure in contemporary art due to his paradoxical approach to painting—both engaging with and questioning its function.[17][49] 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.[50][41]

Public Collections

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  • Aïshti Foundation, Lebanon[1]
  • Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago[51]
  • Bern Art Museum, Bern[52][30]
  • Center Pompidou, Paris[53]
  • Hamburger Bahnhof, Hamburg, Germany[54]
  • CAPC Musée d’art Contemporain, Bordeaux, France[33]
  • Museum Brandhorst, Munich, Germany[29]
  • Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles[55]
  • Museum Ludwig, Cologne[32]
  • Museum of Modern Art, New York[39]
  • Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany[56]

Publications

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  • Michael Krebber, Catalogue Raisonné, Volume 1, Ed. Sanchez, Michael, Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther und Franz König, Köln, Germany, 2022[57]
  • Michael Krebber, The Living Wedge, Part I & II, Serralves, Porto, Portugal; Kunsthalle Bern, Bern, Switzerland, 2017[31]
  • Michael Krebber, Les escargots ridiculisés, The ridiculized snails,CAPC musée d’art contemporain de Bordeaux, 2012[33]
  • Respekt Frischlinge Je Suis La Chaise London Condom, Galerie Daniel Buchholz, Galerie Chantal Crousel and Maureen Paley, 2008[25]
  • Michael Krebber: Puberty in Teaching, Buchhandlung Walther Konig GmbH & Co, 2008[35]
  • Michael Krebber, Secession / Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther König, Köln, 2005[36]
  • Michael Krebber, Kunstverein Braunschweig / Städtische Galerie Wolfsburg, 2000[37]

Awards

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Krebber was awarded the Wolfgang Hahn Prize by the Museum Ludwig, Cologne, in 2015[32]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Michael Krebber - Biography". greenenaftali.com. Greene Naftali Gallery. 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  2. ^ "The ridiculized snails". lespressesdureel.com. Les Presses du Reel. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Butler, Sharon (December 20, 2013). "Michael Krebber Update". twocoatsofpaint.com. Two Coats of Paint. Retrieved Oct 17, 2023.
  4. ^ Sam, Sherman (Summer 2017). "Michael Krebber: Kunsthalle Bern" (PDF). artforum.com. Artforum Magazine. pp. 375–76. Retrieved Oct 21, 2023.
  5. ^ Walczak, Antek (November 10, 2011). "Michael Krebber's "C-A-N-V-A-S, Uhutrust, Jerry Magoo, and guardian.co.uk Paintings"". e-flux.com. e-flux. Retrieved Oct 28, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Applin, Jo (September 25, 2023). "Michael Krebber". artforum.com. Artforum. Retrieved Oct 17, 2023.
  7. ^ "Michael Krebber at Maureen Paley". artviewer.com. Art Viewer. October 1, 2015. Retrieved Oct 17, 2023.
  8. ^ Butler, Sharon (January 13, 2022). "Michael Krebber: The poetry in painting?". twocoatsofpaint.com. Two Coats of Paint. Retrieved Oct 17, 2023.
  9. ^ Birnbaum, Daniel; Kelsey, John; Morgan, Jessica (October 1, 2005). "Man without Qualities: The Art of Michael Krebber". artforum.com. Artforum Magazine (via Mutual Arts). Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  10. ^ "Michael Krebber, Albert Oehlen: Works on Works on Paper". drawingsandnotes.com. Cultured Magazine. January 26, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  11. ^ "Michael Krebber: The Living Wedge - Announcements - e-flux". e-flux.com. e-flux. February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  12. ^ Searle, Adrian (September 24, 2001). "Never trust a painter". theguardian.com. Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved Oct 28, 2023.
  13. ^ Block, Louis (December 2021). "Michael Krebber: New Work". brooklynrail.org. Brooklyn Rail. Retrieved Oct 17, 2023.
  14. ^ "Michael Krebber – Studiofloor and Diamond Paintings". the360mag.com. 360 Magazine. June 1, 2021. Retrieved Oct 18, 2023.
  15. ^ Butler, Sharon (May 7, 2009). "The impossibility of painting and the equally persistent impossibility of not painting". twocoatsofpaint.com. Two Coats of Paint. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  16. ^ Gronemeyer, Wiebke (December 2007). "Michael Krebber @ Maureen Paley". whitehotmagazine.com. Whitehot Magazine. Retrieved Oct 17, 2023.
  17. ^ a b c Tarmy, James (December 15, 2017). "Why Haven't You Heard of This Artist That Investors Love?". bloomberg.com. Bloomberg. Retrieved Oct 18, 2023.
  18. ^ Bishop, Brian (June 16, 2014). "Painting in Retrograde". bigredandshiny.org. Big Red and Shiny, Inc. Retrieved Oct 28, 2023.
  19. ^ "Michael Krebber at Maureen Paley". elephant.art. Elephant Ephemera Ltd. September 7, 2015. Retrieved Oct 17, 2023.
  20. ^ "In Bolzano, the first exhibition of Michael Krebber, an important contemporary German artist". finestresullarte.info. Redazione. June 9, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  21. ^ Brunner, Bettina (March 2, 2008). "Michael Krebber". frieze.com. Frieze. Retrieved Oct 17, 2023.
  22. ^ "Michael Krebber: London Projects, 1994". marcjancou.com. Marc Jancou. January 1, 1994. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  23. ^ Morton, Tom (February 6, 2013). "Nobody's Fool". frieze.com. Frieze. Retrieved Oct 18, 2023.
  24. ^ a b "Esprit de Corps". galeriebuchholz.de. Galerie Buchholz. November 16, 2023. Retrieved Nov 26, 2023.
  25. ^ a b "Michael Krebber: Miami City Ballet". galeriebuchholz.de. Galerie Buchholz. July 2, 2010. Retrieved Oct 18, 2023.
  26. ^ "Michael Krebber". greenenaftali.com. Greene Naftali Gallery. September 13, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  27. ^ Siegel, Harmon (November 1, 2024). "Michael Krebber's Waiting Room". textezurkunst.de. Texte our Kunst. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  28. ^ "Michael Krebber: Studiofloor and Diamond Paintings". artsupp.com. Fondazione Antonio Dalle Nogare. May 29, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  29. ^ a b "Michael Krebber". museum-brandhorst.de. Museum Brandhorst. September 14, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  30. ^ a b "Michael Krebber: The Living Wedge". kunsthalle-bern.ch. Kunsthalle Bern. February 17, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  31. ^ a b "Michael Krebber: The Living Wedge". serralves.pt. Serralves. October 15, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  32. ^ a b c "Wolfgang Hahn Prize 2015 Michael Krebber and R.H. Quaytman". museum-ludwig.de. Museum Ludwig. April 14, 2015. Retrieved Oct 17, 2023.
  33. ^ a b c "Michael Krebber: les escargots ridiculisés = The ridiculized snails". archive.org. CAPC Musée d'art contemporain de Bordeaux. November 15, 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  34. ^ "Michael Krebber - Les escargots ridiculisés". crousel.com. Galerie Chantal Crousel. 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  35. ^ a b Hoderlein, Stefan (June 21, 2008). "Michael Krebber: Puberty in Teaching". koelnischerkunstverein.de. Koelnischer Kunstverein. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  36. ^ a b "Michael Krebber: 7.7. – 4.9.2005". secession.at. Association of Visual Artists Vienna Secession. July 7, 2007. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  37. ^ a b "Michael Krebber: 'Apothekerman' (ex. cat.), Kunstverein Braunschweig / Städtische". kunstvereinbraunschweig.de. Galerie Wolfsburg. March 12, 2000. Retrieved Oct 18, 2023.
  38. ^ Bourel, Michel (March 28, 1997). "Michael Krebber". villa-arson.fr. Villa Arson, Nice. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  39. ^ a b "Parallax View: New York-Köln". moma.org. The Museum of Modern Art. April 18, 1993. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  40. ^ "Why Does So Much Art Right Now Look Like a Mess? Our Critic Investigates". culturedmag.com. Cultured Magazine. October 9, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  41. ^ a b c de Bellis, Vincenzo (May 29, 2021). "Michael Krebber – Studiofloor and Diamond Paintings\". staedelschule.de. Villa Arson, Nice. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  42. ^ Rubenstein, Raphael (May 1, 2009). "Provisional Painting". artinamerica.com. Art in America. Retrieved Oct 18, 2023.
  43. ^ Saltz, Jerry (November 13, 2015). "The Malignant Influence of Michael Krebber: How Early-'00s Abstraction Gave Way to Zombie Formalism". vulture.com. Vox Media Network. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  44. ^ Bienstock, Alex (February 1, 2019). "Provisional Painting". artnews.com. Artnews. Retrieved Oct 18, 2023.
  45. ^ Forbes, Alexander (April 22, 2025). "Wolfgang Hahn Prize Winners R.H. Quaytman and Michael Krebber Show Polke's Lasting Influence". artsy.com. Artsy. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  46. ^ Mclean-Ferris, Laura (July 3, 2023). "Michael Krebber". frieze.com. Frieze. Retrieved Feb 15, 2025.
  47. ^ Bowman, Matthew (December 17, 2018). "Indiscernibly Bad: The Problem of Bad Painting/Good Art". Oxford Art Journal. 41 (3): 321–339. Retrieved Oct 28, 2023.
  48. ^ "Michael Krebber". meer.com. Meer. September 4, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  49. ^ "Michael Krebber". meer.com. Meer. August 23, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  50. ^ Rottmann, André (November 2010). "Michael Krebber". artforum.com. Artforum. Retrieved Oct 28, 2023.
  51. ^ "Michael Krebber". artic.edu. Art Institute of Chicago. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  52. ^ Rosenmeyer, Aoife (April 20, 2017). "Michael Krebber, The Living Wedge". artreview.com. Art Review. p. 110. Retrieved Oct 28, 2023.
  53. ^ "Michael Krebber Peintre". centrepompidou.fr. Centre Pompidou. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  54. ^ "Official Welcome". smb.museum. Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart, Hamburg, Germany. December 17, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  55. ^ "Michael Krebber". moca.org. Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  56. ^ "Official Welcome". smb.museum. Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany. December 17, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  57. ^ Sanchez, Michael (January 10, 2023). Michael Krebber Catalogue Raisonné Vol. 1. Vol. 1. Walther Konig. p. 608. ISBN 9783753302201.
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