Gerhard Richter

Gerhard Richter, born in Dresden, Germany, on February 9, 1932, is a German painter considered one of the most important figures in contemporary art. Throughout his artistic career, he has produced works in abstract and photorealistic styles, and has also engaged with photography and glass sculptures. Richter's abstract painting "Abstraktes Bild" was sold for $34 million at auction in October 2012, breaking the record for the most expensive painting by a living artist. In May 2013, he surpassed his own record with his work "Domplatz, Mailand," which fetched $37.1 million. Recently, it was revealed that in 2025, Richter's mural "Lebensfreude," created in 1956 at the Deutsches Hygiene-Museum, and subsequently painted over in 1979 due to its perceived artistic insignificance, will be restored. A restoration project, which began in 2022 with Richter's permission, has uncovered central parts of the work. This project offers new insights into the artist's early works.