Neo-expressionist masters, in order

13 Famous Neo-expressionist Artiști: The Definitive Ranking

The most famous Neo-expressionist artist is Jean Michel Basquiat (1960–1988), known for Fără titlu - Craniu (Colecția Broad, LA) și Fishing Fish. Next come Anselm Kiefer, Cy Twombly, Julian Schnabel și Georg Baselitz. This ranking of the 13 most famous Neo-expressionist artizii runs from Philip Guston (born 1913) to Chris Ofili (born 1968), across 5 countries.

How this list is ranked. Artists whose works our catalogue files under Neo-expressionist, in the order of our fame ranking of artists. Artists without a Wikidata identifier born after 1955 are left out until verified. The Wikipedia figure next to each name is the number of our 32 languages in which Wikipedia has an article on the artist.

  1. Fără titlu - Craniu (Colecția Broad, LA) de Jean Michel Basquiat1Jean Michel Basquiat
  2. Böhmen liegt am Meer (Bohemia Lies by the Sea) de Anselm Kiefer2Anselm Kiefer
  3. The Rose (IV) de Cy Twombly3Cy Twombly

The essentials

Neo-expressionist at a glance

  • 13Artiști
  • 1913–1968Anii de naștere
  • 5Țări de origine
  • 1Femei
  • 5Artiști contemporani
  • 545Lucrări din catalogul nostru
Orașele cu cele mai multe nașteri
Brooklyn (2), Donaueschingen (1), Lexington (1), Deutschbaselitz (1)
Femeile din această listă
Jennifer Bartlett

Ranked, with their masterpieces

The ranking: 13 Neo-expressionist Artiști and their key works

1of 13

Jean Michel Basquiat

American Born in Brooklyn Neo-Expressionism Wikipedia in 29/32 languages

Jean Michel Basquiat

By the early 1980s, Basquiat transitioned from graffiti to canvas, rapidly gaining recognition within the New York art world. His paintings weren’t easily categorized; they were a unique synthesis of influences ranging from Abstract Expressionism to tribal art, comic books, and historical painting. In the years since his death, Basquiat’s reputation has only grown.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

2of 13

Anselm Kiefer

German Born in Donaueschingen Neo-Expresionism Wikipedia in 23/32 languages

Anselm Kiefer

Anselm Kiefer se impune ca una dintre cele mai profunde și distincte voci ale Neoexpresionismului, un curent artistic care a apărut la sfârșitul anilor '70 și începutul anilor '80 ca o reacție puternică împotriva austerității Minimalismului și a Artelor Conceptuale. Născut în Donaueschingen, Germania, în 1945, însăși existența lui Kiefer este indisolubil legată de repercusiiunile celui de-al Doilea Război Mondial.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

3of 13

Cy Twombly

American Born in Lexington Expresionism Abstract Wikipedia in 21/32 languages

Cy Twombly

Deși independent în mod remarcabil, opera lui Twombly nu a fost creată într-un vid. Twombly a influențat generațiile ulterioare de artiști, deschizând calea pentru pictori precum Jean-Michel Basquiat, Anselm Kiefer, Francesco Clemente și Julian Schnabel, care au îmbrățișat un spirit similar de experimentare și intensitate emoțională.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

4of 13

Julian Schnabel

American Born in Brooklyn Neo-Expressionism

Julian Schnabel

În timpul studiilor sale universitare, el a fost influențat puternic de ideile estetice ale unor maeștri ai artei europene și americane precum Michelangelo Buonarroti și Edvard Munch, fiind fascinat de operele acestora și încercând să înțeleagă semnificația lor profundă.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

5of 13

Georg Baselitz

German Born in Deutschbaselitz Neo-Expresionism Wikipedia in 26/32 languages

Georg Baselitz

Născut Hans-Georg Bruno Kern pe 23 ianuarie 1938, în micul sat german Deutschbaselitz, artistul care avea să fie cunoscut în întreaga lume sub numele de Georg Baselitz a fost un copil al unei perioade de profunde tranziție și agitație.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

6of 13

Philip Guston

Born in Montréal Wikipedia in 15/32 languages

Philip Guston

Această schimbare a fost întâmpinată cu scepticism și chiar ostilitate din partea unor critici care îl acuzau pe Guston că trădează idealurile expresionismului abstract. Aceste picturi, cu teme precum rasismul, antisemitismul și fascismul, au generat controverse intense, dar au demonstrat curajul lui Guston de a aborda subiecte tabu și de a confrunta publicul cu propriile sale prejudecăți.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

7of 13

Chris Ofili

British Born in Manchester Punk art Wikipedia in 10/32 languages

Chris Ofili

Ofili’s ascent within the international art community was marked by significant milestones that cemented his place in history. A defining moment in his career arrived in 1998 when he was awarded the prestigious Turner Prize, an achievement that highlighted his ability to spark intense public debate through works such as The Holy Virgin Mary. His recognition as a member of the Young British Artists group brought him to the forefront of a generation that redefined contemporary painting.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

8of 13

Richard John Spare

Born in London

Richard John Spare

While highly respected for his printmaking skills, Spare began focusing on his own artistic endeavors in the late 1980s. Spare’s works frequently depict wildlife, landscapes, and scenes encountered during his travels, rendered with expressive lines and subtle color palettes. As an artist, he offers a unique vision of the natural world, inviting viewers to appreciate its beauty and fragility through his evocative imagery.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

9of 13

Rainer Fetting

German Born in Wilhelmshaven Neo-Expresionism Wikipedia in 6/32 languages

Rainer Fetting

Rainer Fetting, născut în Wilhelmshaven, Germania, în 1949, reprezintă o figură esențială în renașterea picturii figurative din sfârșitul secolului XX. Mutându-se la Berlin la începutul anilor 1970, Fetting s-a înscris la Hochschule der Künste (Academia de Arte Frumoase), studiind sub îndrumarea profesorului Hans Jaenisch. În 1977, Fetting a co-fondat Galerie am Moritzplatz alături de Helmut Middendorf, Bernd Zimmer, Salomé, Anne Jud și Berthold Schepers.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

10of 13

Richard Spare

British Printmaking, Oil painting

Richard Spare

His formative years at Maidstone College of Art from 1971 to 1974 laid the groundwork for a career deeply rooted in traditional techniques yet remarkably attuned to contemporary artistic currents. Following college, Spare's apprenticeship with Thomas Ross & Son proved invaluable. Throughout this period, Spare remained a frequent exhibitor at prestigious venues like the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition—a testament to his consistent artistic quality and enduring appeal.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

12of 13

Thiago Boecan

Brazilian ['Neo-Figurative Art', 'Abstract Art']

Thiago Boecan

Boecan's early exposure to the vibrant artistic community of São Paulo undoubtedly played a crucial role in his development. However, Boecan distinguishes himself through his minimalist approach and focus on geometric compositions. The influence of Brazilian Neo- Figurative Art is palpable – a movement known for its psychological intensity and exploration of the human condition.

Key works · The 100 most famous works

The paintings behind the names

Famous Neo-expressionist works and the artists who made them

  1. Fără titlu - Craniu (Colecția Broad, LA) de Jean Michel Basquiat

    Fără titlu - Craniu (Colecția Broad, LA)

    Jean Michel Basquiat

    1981

  2. Böhmen liegt am Meer (Bohemia Lies by the Sea) de Anselm Kiefer

    Böhmen liegt am Meer (Bohemia Lies by the Sea)

    Anselm Kiefer

    1996

  3. The Rose (IV) de Cy Twombly

    The Rose (IV)

    Cy Twombly

    2008

  4. Ornamental Despair de Julian Schnabel

    Ornamental Despair

    Julian Schnabel

  5. Der hirte de Georg Baselitz

    Der hirte

    Georg Baselitz

  6. To Fellini de Philip Guston

    To Fellini

    Philip Guston

    1958

  7. The Holy Virgin Mary de Chris Ofili

    The Holy Virgin Mary

    Chris Ofili

    1996 · MoMA - Museum of Modern Art, New York City

  8. Puffin Pair de Richard John Spare

    Puffin Pair

    Richard John Spare

    2010

Through time

A Neo-expressionist timeline in masterpieces

  1. 1958
  2. 1981
  3. 1983
  4. 1991
  5. 1996
  6. 1996
  7. 2008
  8. 2010

In figures

By the numbers

All of them, in order

List of the 13 famous Neo-expressionist artizii

  1. 1Jean Michel BasquiatJean Michel BasquiatAmerican · 1960–1988
  2. 2Anselm KieferAnselm KieferGerman · născut în 1945
  3. 3Cy TwomblyCy TwomblyAmerican · 1928–2011
  4. 4Julian SchnabelJulian SchnabelAmerican · născut în 1951
  5. 5Georg BaselitzGeorg BaselitzGerman · 1938–2026
  6. 6Philip GustonPhilip Guston1913–1980
  7. 7Chris OfiliChris OfiliBritish · născut în 1968
  8. 8Richard John SpareRichard John Sparenăscut în 1951
  9. 9Rainer FettingRainer FettingGerman · născut în 1949
  10. 10Richard SpareRichard SpareBritish ·
  11. 11Anthony SimsAnthony SimsAmerican ·
  12. 12Thiago BoecanThiago BoecanBrazilian ·
  13. 13Jennifer BartlettJennifer BartlettAmerican · 1941–2022

Your questions, answered

Frequently asked questions

  • Which Neo-expressionist artist is the most famous?

    First place goes to Jean Michel Basquiat (#1); Anselm Kiefer (#2) and Cy Twombly (#3) complete the podium.

  • Which five Neo-expressionist artizii should everyone know?

  • In which city were most Neo-expressionist artizii born?

    Brooklyn: 2 of the artizii in this list were born there.

  • Who are the great women of Neo-expressionist art?

    The women of this list (1): Jennifer Bartlett (#13).

  • Who was the earliest Neo-expressionist artist?

    The earliest-born artist in this list is Philip Guston (#6), born in 1913.

  • Which museums hold the most Neo-expressionist art?

    The museums holding the most key works of this list are Toledo Museum of Art (1), Guggenheim Museum Bilbao (1) și Metropolitan Museum of Art (1).

  • Who are the most famous living Neo-expressionist artizii?

    The highest-ranked living artizii in this list are Anselm Kiefer (#2), Julian Schnabel (#4), Chris Ofili (#7), Richard John Spare (#8) și Rainer Fetting (#9).

  • What techniques did Neo-expressionist artizii use?

    “Tehnica lui Kiefer este caracterizată printr-un impasto intens și gros.” — from our biography of Anselm Kiefer (#2).

  • Where were most Neo-expressionist artizii born?

    Statele Unite ale Americii: 3 of the 13 artizii in this list were born there, then Germania (3) și United Kingdom (2).

  • When did the famous Neo-expressionist artizii live?

    Most artizii in this list were born in the 1940s (3 of 13), between 1913 and 1968 overall.

  • Where can I buy Neo-expressionist art?

    Our catalogue holds 545 works by these artizii.

Keep reading

Further reading on WahooArt.com

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