Gerhard Richter

Gerhard Richter, born on February 9, 1932, in Dresden, Germany, is considered one of the most significant figures in contemporary art. Throughout his career, he has produced works in both abstract and photo-realistic styles, and has also engaged with photography and glass sculptures. Richter's abstract painting "Abstraktes Bild" sold for $34 million at auction in October 2012, setting a record for the most expensive painting by a living artist. In May 2013, his painting "Domplatz, Mailand" fetched $37.1 million, surpassing his own record. In recent years, in 2025, it was revealed that Richter created a wall painting titled "Lebensfreude" at the Deutsches Hygiene-Museum in 1956. This work was overpainted in 1979 due to its perceived lack of artistic significance. A restoration project initiated in 2022, with Richter's consent, uncovered central sections of the painting, offering new insights into the artist's early work.