Antonius Höckelmann (1937-2000) was one of the most talented and important German artists of his generation. Together with friends/artists such as George Baselitz, A.R. Penck, Markus Lüpertz and Jörg Immendorff, Höckelmann was a pivotal figure in the post-war German art scene that was dedicated to expressive figuration. A quarter of a century ago, Deweer Gallery presented a final solo exhibition of Antonius Höckelmann. In continuation of this, and bolstered by the current revival of art from the 1980s, the idea arose to present you, again, a breath-taking view into Höckelmann’s universe. This exhibition celebrates the German artist by highlighting a particularly unique part of his oeuvre, namely his sculptures, drawings and paintings from the eighties and nineties.

In order to better situate the work of Antonius Höckelmann in 2018, Deweer's art historian Sofie Crabbé travelled to Cologne to conduct research into personal testimonies of persons who were closely acquainted with the artist. She interviewed the former director of the Museum Ludwig, Prof Dr Siegfried Gohr. This German art historian, archaeologist and philosopher wrote several essays and books on Höckelmann's work. In 1980, as director of the Kunsthalle in Cologne, he organised a solo exhibition with work by Höckelmann. The catalogue 'Antonius Höckelmann. Skulpturen, Handzeichnungen' was published to coincide with this exhibition. Ms Crabbé also spoke with art historian Prof. Dr. Manfred Schneckenburger. He was, among others, artistic director of documenta 6 (1977) - in which drawings by Antonius Höckelmann were shown - and documenta 8 (1987), in Kassel.

On the basis of our research, we are now able to present - a quarter of a century later - a contemporary vision of the work of Antonius Höckelmann. We do this through an exhibition and a wide range of quotes and archival material that will be accessible through social media. After all, his work continues to amaze and move us. Do not miss this unique opportunity to (re)discover the versatility and highly artistic quality of Höckelmann's art.

Available works from the show

Antonius Höckelmann studied at the Hochschule für Bildende Kunst in Berlin from 1957 until 1961. He was a educated by professors such as Karl Hartung and Hann Trier, two eminent figures well-known for their abstract sculptures. Antonius Höckelmann's work was included twice in Documenta in Kassel (1977 and 1982). He participated in a series of solo exhibitions in, among others, Sammlung Würth, Hirschwirtscheuer, Künzelsau, Germany (2015), the LehmbruckMuseum, Duisburg, Germany (2014), Galerie Michael Werner, Märkisch Wilmersdorf, Germany (2014), Sammlung Würth, Deutschordensmuseum, Bad Mergentheim, Germany (2012), Gustav-Lübcke-Museum, Hamm, Germany (2002) and the Stadtmuseum Beckum, Germany (2002). In the seventies and eighties some important solo exhibitions took place such as one in Kunsthalle Köln (1980) and one in Kunsthalle Bern (1975). Since 1966 he exhibited at Michael Werner gallery when the gallery was still based in Berlin. He already had three solo exhibitions at Deweer Gallery (1995, 1989, 1988).

He participated in diverse group exhibitions at places such as in Arp Museum, Bahnhof Rolandseck, Germany (2018), ZKM Museum für Neue Kunst, Karlsruhe, Germany (2015), Forum Würth, Rorschach, Switzerland (2015), Museum Morsbroich, Leverkusen, Germany (2015), Kunsthalle Düsseldorf, Germany (2015), Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg, Germany (2014), Musée d’art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, France (2012), Kölnisches Stadtmuseum, Cologne, Germany (2009), Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany (2008), David Nolan Gallery, New York, U.S.A. (2004), Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo, Buenos Aires, Argentina (2003), Museo de Arte Moderna, São Paolo, Brazil (2003) and Ludwig Museum, Cologne, Germany (2001), among others. Works of Höckelmann have been shown during ‘Europa-Amerika’ in Museum Ludwig, Cologne, Germany (1986) and during one of the most important, cultural exhibitions of the eighties ‘Von hier aus - Zwei Monate neue deutsche Kunst in Düsseldorf’ curated by Kasper König in the Messe Düsseldorf, Germany (1984). In Belgium Antonius Höckelmann exhibited in, among others, the City Museum for Contemporary Art in Ghent (1989) and in the Centre for Fine Arts (BOZAR) in Brussels (1981).

The work of Antonius Höckelmann is represented, among others, in the prestigious public and private collections such as the collections of Museum Ludwig in Cologne, the Nationalgalerie in Berlin, the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.