Volker Stelzmann

Born in Dresden in 1940, the renowned German painter Volker Stelzmann has been living and working in Berlin for many years. An established name in the art world, his works have been shown in international exhibitions, private collections, and museums.

Of particular note is Volker Stelzmann’s position within the Leipzig School: He represents the continuity within the Leipzig School’s painting tradition and stands between its founders and the representatives of the New Leipzig School.

Volker Stelzmann’s most influential sources of inspiration include the Italian Mannerism with artists such as Jacopo Pontormo and Rosso Fiorentino, as well as the New Objectivity with masters such as Otto Dix and George Grosz. His works are characterized by a unique aesthetic that combines the art of the Italian Renaissance with the tradition of the Leipzig School and the topicality of contemporary topics. Volker Stelzmann’s work is characterized by a sharp, sometimes ironic observation of the human being in all his facets, whether as an individual or as part of society. Street scenes, carnival, circus, variety shows, as well as biblical settings are the stages on which Stelzmann’s characters play their allegorical roles in his “theatrum mundi”. His paintings possess old master qualities, yet their motifs are strikingly contemporary.