Marlborough Gallery, The Pressure to Paint, Curated by Diego Cortez, Exhibition Catalogue, June – July 1982. Featuring seventeen German, Italian, and American artists, this was one of the first group exhibitions to promote Neo-Expressionism as an international art movement. Today, the listing is conspicuous for it’s absence of women artists.
The revival of painting that took place in the 1980s moved in many directions but the term that most appropriately defined and marketed this change was Neo-Expressionism. In New York, the Mary Boone Gallery was the headquarters for the movement, especially after she teamed up with Michael Werner whose Cologne gallery promoted similarly inclined German painters. When young Italian painters were also added to the mix in a series of theme exhibitions in prestigious galleries, critics began heralding Neo-Expression as the new international art style of the 1980s.
Yet it was clear from the start that Neo-Expressionism was far from a coherent movement. While the slightly older German artists stuck closest to the concept of Expressionism as it is traditionally defined, American artists like Julian Schnabel and David Salle employed diverse materials and approaches to evoke a range of multi-faceted realities. The Italian painters, on the other hand, seemed mostly inspired by Surrealism. But despite its limitations, the term Neo-Expressionism was helpful in identifying shared elements amongst the group of male artists promoted under this banner in the 80s. As the term is both broad and vague, women and artists of color active during this period, can now also be included while still acknowledging their individual priorities.
Gallery 98 has dug deep into its archive of art ephemera to feature here a selection of cards, posters, and publications that spotlight both the Neo-Expressionist art stars of the 80’s, as well as others who might also fall under that banner. View more by visiting the Neo-Expressionism section on our website.
Anselm Kiefer
Michael Werner Gallery (Germany), Anselm Kiefer, Folded Flyer in Envelope, 1978. Size: 11.5 x 8.25 Inches — Flyer Available
Sandro Chia
Emilio Mazzoli, Sandro Chia, Mattinata All’ Opera, text by Achille Bonito Oliva, 78 Page Book, 1979. Size: 4.75 x 6.75 inches. — Book Available
Julian Schnabel
Leo Castelli Gallery & Mary Boone Gallery, Julian Schnabel, Poster, 1981. Size: 18 x 36 Inches — Poster Available
Gerhard Richter
Max Ulrich Heltzer GmbH, Gerhard Richter, Oversized Folded Card, 1982. Size: 8.25 x 11.75 inches — Card Available
Malcom Morley
Xavier Fourcade Inc., Malcom Morley, Paintings and Watercolors, Folded Card, 1982. Size: 5 x 7.5 inches — Card Available
Francesco Clemente
Sperone Westwater Gallery and Mary Boone Gallery, Francesco Clemente, Oversize Card, 1983. Size: 12.25 x 9.25 Inches — Card Available
Georg Baselitz
Sonnabend Gallery, Georg Baselitz, Card, 1983. Size: 4.75 x 7 Inches — Card Available
Marlene Dumas
Art Unlimited Amsterdam, Marlene Dumas, Sigmund’s Wife, Card, 1984. Size: 4.25 x 6 Inches — Card Available
David Salle
Texas Gallery, David Salle, Folded Card, 1985. Size: 5.5 x 4.25 Inches — Card Available
Alice Neel
Robert Miller Gallery, Alice Neel, Card, 1986. Size: 6.75 x 9 Inches — Card Available
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Akira Ikeda Gallery, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Large Card, 1986. Size: 7.25 x 10 inches
Eric Fischl
Mary Boone Gallery, Michael Werner Gallery, Eric Fischl, Folded Card, 1987. Size: 7 x 10 Inches — Card Available
Emma Amos
Jersey City Museum, Emma Amos, Card, 1988. Size: 4 x 6 Inches — Card Available
Ida Applebroog
Ronald Feldman Fine Arts Gallery, Ida Applebroog, Card, 1994. Size: 4.25 x 6 Inches — Card Available
View more by visiting the Neo-Expressionism section on our website.
