Anselm Kiefer

Biography

• 1945 - Born on 8 March in Donaueschingen (Baden-Wurttemberg)
• 1951 - Moved to Ottersdorf; attended grammar school in Rastatt
• 1965 - School-leaving examination; started studying law and Romance languages at the Albert Ludwigs University, Freiburg; spent time in Paris
• 1966-70 - Studied art with Peter Dreher and Horst Antes at the Staatliche Hochschule der Bildenden Kunste, Freiburg and Dusseldorf
• 1969 - Series of photographs of his controversial political action Besetzungen (Occupations); first one-man exhibition at the Galerie am Kaiserplatz, Karlsruhe
• 1970-72 - Continued art studies with Joseph Beuys at Dusseldorf Kunstakademie
• 1971 onwards - Lived in Hornbach; traveled in Europe, USA, Middle East
• 1973 - Notung (Nothung), Galerie Michael Werner, Cologne
• 1978 - First one-man show in Switzerland at Kunsthalle Bern
• 1980 - Verbrennen, verholzen, versenken, versanden for German pavilion at Venice Biennale
• 1984 - Highly successful show at Stadtische Kunsthalle, Düsseldorf; first trip to Israel
• 1987-89 - International traveling exhibition in USA
• 1988 - Acquired former brickworks in Hopfingen; planned Zweistromland
• 1991 - One-man show at Nationalgalerie Berlin; presentation of Books, 1969-1990
• 1991-93 - Left Germany; traveled to India, Mexico, China; brief USA stay
• Since 1992/93 - Settled in Barjac, France; transforming La Ribaute into Gesamtkunstwerk
• 1997 - Himmel-Erde, Museo Correr, Venice
• 1999 - Works on Paper, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
• 2000 - Chevirat Ha-Kelim, Chapelle de La Salpetriere, Paris
• 2001 - Exhibition at Gagosian Gallery, New York; expanded large-scale installations in Barjac
• 2002 - Major participation in Monumenta-like large-space presentations in Europe
• 2003 - Am Anfang exhibition series begins; continued development of La Ribaute towers and tunnels
• 2004 - The Seven Heavenly Palaces concept refined; large works shown in European institutions
• 2005 - The Seven Heavenly Palaces permanently installed at HangarBicocca, Milan
• 2006 - Heroic Symbols and Sternenfall works exhibited internationally
• 2007 - Retrospective at Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
• 2008 - Opening of Shevirat Ha-Kelim installations in Germany and France
• 2009 - Retrospective at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebaek, Denmark
• 2010 - Salt of the Earth and large-scale lead/ash works shown in Europe and the U.S.
• 2011 - Works featured in Paris and Berlin; further architectural interventions at La Ribaute
• 2012 - Exhibition at White Cube, London; focus on large-scale concrete and alchemical themes
• 2013 - Morgenthau Plan series exhibited; expanded book/lead sculpture projects
• 2014 - Walhalla exhibition at Royal Academy of Arts; significant new installations unveiled
• 2015 - Large survey exhibition at Centre Pompidou, Paris
• 2016 - Walhalla opens at White Cube Bermondsey, London; expanded apocalyptic architectural works
• 2017 - Retrospective and new paintings shown in China; further development of landscape-based works
• 2018 - Anselm Kiefer at Thaddaeus Ropac; new monumental canvases and sculptural books
• 2019 - Exhibition at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris Pantin; focus on lead books and cosmic imagery
• 2020 - Major exhibition at Gagosian Paris; pandemic period spent continuing work in La Ribaute
• 2021 - Large-scale sculptures shown at Palazzo Ducale, Venice; continued expansion of studio complex
• 2022 - Venice Biennale collateral event at Palazzo Ducale honoring Dante Alighieri
• 2023 - Retrospective at Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, Florence; new works exploring mythology and memory
• 2024 - Major installations and paintings exhibited at Gagosian and international museums
• 2025 - Ongoing exhibitions, large-format paintings, and site-specific works across Europe and the U.S.