The exhibition Gerhard Richter: 100 Works for Berlin at Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin shows for the first time the long-term loan from the Gerhard Richter Art Foundation to the Neue Nationalgalerie.<br />At its core is the Birkenau series (2014), featuring four large-scale abstract paintings. These stem from Richter’s deep exploration of the Holocaust and its artistic representation. The paintings originate from four photographs taken at Auschwitz-Birkenau, which Richter transferred onto canvases using charcoal and oil paint before gradually covering them with abstract layers. With each layer, the original imagery faded until it was no longer visible. A large four-part mirror, placed opposite the Birkenau canvases, adds a reflective dimension to the work.<br />In addition to the Birkenau series, the exhibition includes works from different stages of Richter’s career, such as Squatters’ House (1989), 4,900 Colors (2007), and Strip (2013/2016). It also showcases a significant collection of Richter’s overpainted photographs, which explore the interplay between photography and painting in a fresh way.<br />The display was created in close partnership with the artist. The exhibition is curated by Joachim Jäger and Maike Steinkamp and runs until September 2026.<br /><br />Gerhard Richter: 100 Works for Berlin / Neue Nationalgalerie Berlin. Berlin (Germany), May 3, 2025.
