Michael Werner Donates Over 130 Works to Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris
Michael Werner, a German art dealer, has generously contributed over 130 artworks, including paintings and sculptures, to the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris. This autumn, the museum will host an exhibition showcasing his collection. Born in 1939, Werner started his professional journey in the 1960s as an assistant to gallerist Rudolf Springer before establishing his own gallery in Berlin, later branching out to Cologne, New York, and London. He was a pioneer in exhibiting artists such as Georg Baselitz and represented Marcel Broodthaers. In a 2011 interview with Fabrice Hergott, the museum's director, Werner expressed his criticism of Marcel Duchamp, praised Francis Picabia, and highlighted the disparity in support for German artists compared to their British counterparts.
Key facts
- Michael Werner donated over 130 paintings and sculptures to the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.
- An exhibition of the donation is presented at the museum this autumn.
- Werner was born in 1939 and worked with Rudolf Springer in Berlin in the early 1960s.
- He opened his own gallery in Berlin, later expanding to Cologne, New York, and London.
- He was the first dealer to show Georg Baselitz, Markus Lüpertz, A. R. Penck, Jörg Immendorff, and Per Kirkeby.
- He also represented Marcel Broodthaers in the early 1970s and Niele Toroni.
- Werner calls Marcel Duchamp his 'greatest enemy' and a 'bad painter.'
- He considers Francis Picabia a model for figurative painting.
- The interview was conducted by Fabrice Hergott in Berlin in spring and summer 2011.
Entities
Artists
- Michael Werner
- Rudolf Springer
- Georg Baselitz
- Markus Lüpertz
- A. R. Penck
- Jörg Immendorff
- Per Kirkeby
- Marcel Broodthaers
- Niele Toroni
- Marcel Duchamp
- Francis Picabia
- James Lee Byars
- Peter Doig
- Eugène Leroy
- Carl Blechen
- Ernst Wilhelm Nay
- Fernand Léger
- Pablo Picasso
- Lucian Freud
- Sigmar Polke
- Gerhard Richter
- Fabrice Hergott
Institutions
- Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
- Galerie Rudolf Springer
- Michael Werner Gallery
- British Council
- Documenta
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany
- Cologne
- New York
- London
- Paris
- France
- Italy
Sources
- artpress —