Gerhard Richter — Profile, Rankings & Fame Trend

Summary

Updated 2026-06-21

He moves between blur and razor focus, abstraction and photorealism, refusing to settle. The market has called him the most expensive living painter; critics have tried calling him the greatest. Richter keeps working.

Biography

About

Born in 1932 in Germany, Gerhard Richter built a practice that refuses a single style: photorealistic paintings sit beside abstractions, photographs beside glass pieces. The range itself became the signature. His work began commanding record prices at auction, and for a time he held the title of most expensive living painter. Critics reached for comparisons—"Picasso of the 21st century," "the world's most important artist"—labels he neither courted nor deflected. He remains, at over ninety, one of contemporary Germany's most significant visual artists, still producing in a career that has span…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Gerhard Richter

Gerhard Richter

said1972

This superficial blurring has something to do with the incapacity I have just mentioned.

— in an interview with Rolf Schön, 1972; as cited on collected quotes on the website of Gerhard Richter: 'on Techniques'

Gerhard Richter

said1970

[question: How do you interpret your role as a painter in our society?] As a role that everyone has. I would like to try to understand what is.

— Quote from the interview with Rolf-Gunter Dienst, 1970; as cited on collected quotes on the website of Gerhard Richter: 'on Art'

Gerhard Richter

said1964

Contact with like-minded painters – a group means a great deal to me: nothing comes in isolation. We have worked out our ideas largely by talking them through.

— Notes, 1964; as cited on collected quotes on the website of Gerhard Richter: 'on Other subjects'

Gerhard Richter

said1964

Composition is a side issue. Its role in my selection of photographs is a negative one at best.

— Notes, 1964; as cited on collected quotes on the website of Gerhard Richter: 'on Techniques'

Gerhard Richter

said1964

I blur things to make everything equally important and equally unimportant. I blur things so that they do not look artistic or craftsmanlike but technological, smooth and perfect.

— Notes, 1964-65; as cited on collected quotes on the website of Gerhard Richter: 'on Techniques'

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