Daniel Richter
Curse of the Iron Butterfly
Long Lake Estates
Daniel Richter is a German artist known for large-scale paintings inspired by mass media and contemporary culture.
Working in the tradition of Expressionism, Richter’s practice could be seen as following in the footsteps of Edvard Munch and James Ensor. He began his career designing posters and record sleeves for bands. Some of his early work was called “psychedelic,” and he was influenced by multiple countercultures.
“The only drug I really recommend, also because it does the least harm to mankind and those producing and distributing it, is LSD. I think LSD is a great drug. It’s very fascinating to watch your brain connecting thoughts, feelings and observations, and structuring the world as a constant ornament in very complex layers, and also leaving your body behind, or intensifying its tactility is a life-changing experience.”
Over the years, Richter’s work has evolved from the wild abstractions of his youth towards politically based representational imagery. Today, he lives and works between Berlin and Hamburg, Germany. Richter’s works are held in the collections of the Kunstmuseum Bonn, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Weserburg Museum of Modern Art in Bremen, among others.
Articles:
Daniel Richter: A Very Boring Dream Come True — Early posters and record art