Norbert Bisky

Norbert Bisky was born in Leipzig and grew up in the former German Democratic Republic[https://www.zeit.de/2010/12/Rettung-Norbert-Bisky Interview] with Norbert Bisky by Herlinde Koelbl, Zeit online edition; published 18 March 2010; accessed 12 May 2019 as "part of a very Communist family that really believed in all that stuff".Norbert Bisky in an interview with Karen Wright, in: Modern Painters, March 2005, pp. 76-81.Mullins, 2006, p. 142

From 1994 to 1999 Norbert Bisky studied painting at Hochschule der Künste in Berlin where he was a Master Student of Georg Baselitz and at the Salzburg Summer Academy in the class of Jim Dine.

In 1995, he spent a year as an exchange student in Madrid, where he discovered the works of Francisco de Goya, Francisco de Zubaráns and Jusepe de Ribera.

Bisky was a guest professor at the HEAD Academy of arts in Geneva from 2008 to 2010 and from 2016 to 2018 at HBK Braunschweig.[https://www.hbk-bs.de/hochschule/personen/norbert-bisky/ Website of HBK Braunschweig; accessed 12 May 2019]{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}[https://www.norbertbisky.com/biography/ Official website of the artist; accessed 12 May 2019] In 2015, he swapped studios with Tel Aviv-based artist Erez Israeli for three months.[https://www.juedische-allgemeine.de/kultur/deutsch-israelischer-ateliertausch/; Article in Jüdische Allgemeine newspaper; published 27 March 2015; accessed 12 May 2019]

Norbert Biskys early paintings are most commonly described as heavily influenced by socialist realism, the official art of the GDR. Comparing the belief in communism to a religion, he processed his childhood memories by painting "those images of paradise" and "false promises" into dazzling bright images of idealized bodies and untouched nature.Norbert Bisky in an interview with Karen Wright, in: Modern Painters, March 2005, pp. 76-81.

In later years, Bisky's large-size paintings, often depicting adolescents, increasingly shifted towards darker themes. Personal loss, the experience of terror, travels to Brazil and media reports inspired him to examine subjects such as violence, sexuality and destruction symbolized by figures, in many cases floating, falling or tumbling without any gravitational axis.{{Cite web |url=https://www.wallrichwolf.com/kunst/147-qdas-schlimmste-ist-gleichgueltigkeitq.html |title=Interview with Norbert Bisky; accessed May 12, 2019 |access-date=19 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029191850/https://www.wallrichwolf.com//kunst/147-qdas-schlimmste-ist-gleichgueltigkeitq.html |archive-date=29 October 2018 |url-status=dead }}[https://www.welt.de/kultur/kunst-und-architektur/plus164071680/Ein-grosser-Maler-auf-dem-Absturz-nach-oben.html Ein großer Maler auf dem Absturz nach oben, Article] by Hans-Joachim Müller for Die Welt newspaper; published 27 April 2017; accessed 12 May 2019 Firmly established in the public conscience through media images following the September 11 attacks, these falling figures explore the transience of youth, the loss of autonomy, isolation and the disintegration of modern civilization.

The aesthetic tumult surrounding the figures is punctuated by the cross pollination of cues from Christian ideology, art history, gay culture, pornography and apocalyptic visions.[https://www.morgenpost.de/kultur/article211861633/Angriff-mit-Farbe.html Angriff mit Farbe, Article] by Elisa von Hof for Berliner Morgenpost newspaper; published 9 September 2017; accessed 12 May 2019{{Cite web|url=http://www.literaturfestival.com/archive/participants/authors/2012/norbert-bisky?set_language=en|title=Norbert Bisky – internationales literaturfestival berlin}} Through this, Bisky transmits an impression of instability on the canvas that distinctly resonates with our contemporary state of affairs.https://artmap.com/koenigandclinton/exhibition/norbert-bisky-2007 Exhibition text for "What's Wrong With Me?" at Leo Koenig Inc., New York, 2007

In May 2013, Norbert Bisky created his first stage set for the piece "Masse" by the Berlin State Ballet that premiered in the legendary Berlin Nightclub Berghain in May 2013 and was the subject of a TV documentary by German director Nicole Graf.[http://ballett-journal.de/staatsballett-berlin-3sat-masse-berghain/ Website of Ballet Journal]

Since May 2017 Norbert Bisky's large-format painting "Vertigo" is prominently displayed in Berghain's entrance hall as part of the club's art concept, which also features works by Wolfgang Tillmans and Joseph Marr.[https://news.artnet.com/art-world/norbert-bisky-berghain-936980 Want to See Norbert Bisky's New Paintings? You'll Have to Get Into Berlin's Notorious Berghain Nightclub First, Article by Henri Neuendorf for Artnet.com; published 28 April 2017; accessed 12 May 2019]

For World Press Freedom Day, Norbert Bisky created the painting "Rauschen" which was printed on the title page of numerous German daily newspapers, in collaboration with the Federal association of German newspaper publishers (BDZV: Bundesverband Deutscher Zeitungsverleger) on 3 May 2019.[https://www.monopol-magazin.de/norbert-bisky-gestaltet-zeitungsseite-zur-pressefreiheit Website of Monopol magazine][https://programm.ard.de/TV/3sat/masse---techno-ballett-aus-berlin/eid_28007586039371 TV documentation]

Bisky is being represented by Fabienne Levy Gallery in Lausanne, Switzerland.[https://www.fabiennelevy.com/artist/norbert-bisky/ Artist website at Fabienne Levy] Until 2023, he was also represented by König Galerie in Berlin.[https://www.koeniggalerie.com/collections/norbert-bisky Artist website at König Galerie], accessed 7 June 2024 Since March 2025, he is represented by Esther Schipper gallery.[https://www.estherschipper.com/news/658-now-representing-norbert-bisky/ Website of gallery Esther Schipper], accessed May 15, 2025[https://www.monopol-magazin.de/norbert-bisky-esther-schipper-berlin Interview in Monopol Magazine], accessed May 15, 2025

2024

• "Ludology", Galerie Templon, New York[https://www.templon.com/exhibitions/ludology/ Gallery website], accessed 7 June 2024

2023

• "Im Freien", Kunstverein Freunde Aktueller Kunst, Zwickau[https://www.freunde-aktueller-kunst.de/ausstellungen-2016---2025.html], accessed 7 June 2024
• "Swing State", Navot Miller & Norbert Bisky, Weserhalle, Berlin[https://weserhalle.com/exhibition/navot-miller-norbert-bisky-swing-state/], accessed 7 June 2024

2022

• "UTOPIANISTAS", Galerie Daniel Templon, Paris, France{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccz7GdhB6SY | title=Norbert Bisky – Utopianistas | via=YouTube | date=16 November 2022 }}
• "Taumel", König Galerie, Berlin, Germany{{cite web | url=https://www.koeniggalerie.com/blogs/exhibitions/norbert-bisky-taumel | title=Norbert Bisky Taumel }}
• "Kurpark", Cokkie Snoei Gallery, Rotterdam, Netherlands{{cite web | url=https://www.cokkiesnoei.com/exhibitions/185/kurpark | title=Cokkie Snoei – Exhibitions – KURPARK }}
• "Walküren-Basislager", Staatsoper Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany{{cite web | url=https://www.staatsoper-stuttgart.de/spielplan/a-z/norbert-bisky-walkueren-basislager/ | title=Norbert Bisky: Walküren-Basislager | Staatsoper Stuttgart }}
• "Mirror Society", SCAD Museum of Art, Savannah, USA{{cite web | url=https://www.scadmoa.org/exhibitions/mirror-society | title=Mirror Society | SCAD Museum of Art }}

2021

• „DISINFOTAINMENT", G2 Kunsthalle, Leipzig, Germany[http://g2-leipzig.de/ausstellungen/6489/ Website of G2 Kunsthalle]

2020

• "Unrest", Fabienne Levy Gallery, Lausanne, Switzerland{{Cite web |url=https://www.fabiennelevy.com/exhibition/unrest/ |title=Website of Fabienne Levy |access-date=17 October 2020 |archive-date=2 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202114933/https://www.fabiennelevy.com/exhibition/unrest/ |url-status=dead }}
• "Metrocake", KONIG TOKIO, Tokio, Japan[https://www.koeniggalerie.com/exhibitions/31261/metrocake/ Website of Konig Galerie]
• "Berlin Sunday", Le Confort Moderne, Poitiers, France[https://www.confort-moderne.fr/fr/archives/event/Berlin-Sunday-Norbert-Bisky/2489 Website of Le Confort Moderne]
• "Desmadre Berlin", Galerie Daniel Templon, Paris, France[https://www.templon.com/new/exhibition.php?la=en&show_id=664 Website of Galerie Templon]

2019

• "RANT", Villa Schöningen, Potsdam, Germany[https://www.villa-schoeningen.org/ Website of Villa Schöningen] / "POMPA", St. Matthäus-Kirche, Berlin, Germany[https://www.stiftung-stmatthaeus.de/programm/veranstaltung/hora-zur-eroeffnung-der-ausstellung-pompa-von-norbert-bisky/ Website of St. Matthew's Church]
• "Tainted Love/Club Edit", Villa Arson, Nizza, France{{Cite web |url=https://www.villa-arson.org/2018/12/tainted-love-south-club-edit/ |title=Website of Villa Arson |access-date=19 June 2019 |archive-date=19 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919183932/https://www.villa-arson.org/2018/12/tainted-love-south-club-edit/ |url-status=dead }}

2018

• "Fernwärme", Museum Langmatt, Baden, Switzerland[http://www.langmatt.ch/archiv/norbert-bisky-fernwaerme/ Website of Museum Langmatt]
• "Hope and Hazard: A Comedy of Eros", curated by Eric Fischl, Hall Art Foundation, Reading, USA[http://www.hallartfoundation.org/exhibition/hope-and-hazard-a-comedy-of-eros/installation-views Website of Hall Art Foundation]
• "Boezemvriend" (with Grit Hachmeister), Cokkie Snoei Gallery, Rotterdam, Netherlands{{cite web | url=https://www.cokkiesnoei.com/exhibitions/158/boezemvriend | title=Boezemvriend | publisher=Cookie Snoei | accessdate=15 November 2020 }}

2017

• "Trilemma", König Galerie, Berlin, Germany{{Cite web |url=https://www.koeniggalerie.com/exhibitions/9134/trilemma/ |title=Website of König Galerie |access-date=22 November 2018 |archive-date=22 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622144100/https://www.koeniggalerie.com/exhibitions/9134/trilemma/ |url-status=dead }}
• "Die Revolution ist tot. Lang lebe die Revolution!", Kunstmuseum Bern, Bern, Switzerland[https://www.kunstmuseumbern.ch/see/today/657-die-revolution-ist-tot--120.html Website of Kunstmuseum Bern]
• "MISSING: Der Turm der blauen Pferde by Franz Marc – Contemporary artists in search of a lost masterpiece", Haus am Waldsee, Berlin, Germany[https://hausamwaldsee.de/en/missing-der-turm-der-blauen-pferde-by-franz-marc/ Website of Haus am Waldsee]

2016

• "Dies Irae", Crone Wien, Vienna, Austria{{Cite web |url=https://artmap.com/cronegalerie/exhibition/norbert-bisky-2016 |title=Archived copy |access-date=19 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622144100/https://artmap.com/cronegalerie/exhibition/norbert-bisky-2016 |archive-date=22 June 2019 |url-status=dead }}
• "A FUGA", Galeria Baró, São Paulo, Brazil{{Cite web|url=https://www.artsy.net/show/baro-galeria-norbert-bisky-a-fuga|title = Norbert Bisky | A Fuga | Artsy}}
• "Elective Affinities – German Art Since The Late 1960s", Latvian National Museum of Art, Riga, Latvia[http://lnmm.lv/en/aeh/press/news/533-international-conference-elective-affinities-german-art-since-the-late-1960s Museum website]
• "Zeitgeist – Arte da Nova Berlim", Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil[http://culturabancodobrasil.com.br/portal/zeitgeist-berlim-arte-da-nova-berlim/ Website of CCBB]

2015

• "Hérésie", Galerie Daniel Templon, Brussels, Belgium[https://www.templon.com/new/artist.php?la=en&artist_id=275&display_bio=1 Gallery website]
• "Levinsky Street", Givon Art Gallery, Tel Aviv, Israel[http://www.givonartgallery.com/past-exhibitions/norbert-bisky-levinsky-street Gallery website]
• "Balagan", Bötzow Berlin, Berlin, Germany[boetzowberlin.de/index.php?id=52]
• "Black Bandits", Haus am Lützowplatz, Berlin, Germany{{Cite web|url=http://www.hal-berlin.de/ausstellung/black-bandits/|title = #lützow #befreiungskriege #napoleon #waterloo : Haus am Lützowplatz}}

2014

• "Zentrifuge", Kunsthalle Rostock, Rostock, Germany
• "Works on Paper", Galerie Daniel Templon, Paris, France[https://www.templon.com/new/artist.php?la=en&artist_id=275&display_bio=1 Gallery website]
• "Riots", Galería Espacio Mínimo, Madrid, Spain[http://www.espaciominimo.es/norbert-binsky/ Gallery website]
• "10", Berghain, Berlin, Germany
• "Utopie Picturale 2", Fonderie Kugler, Geneva, Switzerland[https://usinekugler.ch/fonderie/fonderie-kugler/news-fonderie/280-utopie-picturale-2 Gallery website]

2013

• "Norbert Bisky: Special Report", MEWO Kunsthalle, Memmingen, Germany{{Cite web |url=http://www.mewo-kunsthalle.de/ausstellungen/bisky-specialreport.html |title=Website of MEWO Kunsthalle |access-date=17 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620195833/http://www.mewo-kunsthalle.de/ausstellungen/bisky-specialreport.html |archive-date=20 June 2013 |url-status=dead }}
• "Paraisópolis", Galerie Crone, Berlin, Germany{{Cite web|url=http://www.artnet.de/galerien/galerie-crone/k%c3%bcnstler-norbert-bisky/|title = Kunstwerke von Norbert Bisky bei Galerie Crone auf artnet}}

2012

• "Stampede", Leo Koenig Inc., New York, USA{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20140502004936/http://koenigandclinton.com/exhibitions/norbert-bisky-stampede/ Gallery website]}}
• "I am a Berliner", Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Tel Aviv, Israel{{Cite web |url=http://www.tamuseum.org.il/about-the-exhibition/i-am-a-berliner |title=Museum website |access-date=19 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622144102/http://www.tamuseum.org.il/about-the-exhibition/i-am-a-berliner |archive-date=22 June 2019 |url-status=dead }}
• "Laboratories of the Senses", MARTa Herford, Herford, Germany{{Cite news|url=http://marta-herford.de/en/atelier-kueche-labore-der-sinne/|title = Marta Herford Atelier + Kitchen = Laboratories of the Senses| newspaper=Marta Herford }}

2011

• "A Retrospective. Ten Years of Painting", Kunsthalle Marcel Duchamp, Cully, Switzerland
• "Decompression", Galerie Daniel Templon, Paris, France

2010

• "befall", Galerie Crone, Berlin, Germany[https://www.tagesspiegel.de/kultur/galerie-crone-norbert-bisky-weicher-tod/1843426.html Article] in Tagesspiegel newspaper
• "Maudit", Galerie Charlotte Moser, Geneva, Switzerland

2009

• "Mandelkern", Kunstverein Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany{{cite web |url=http://archiv.monopol-magazin.de/kalender/termin/20102185/dortmunder-kunstverein-ev/NORBERT-BISKY-Mandelkern.html |title=NORBERT BISKY – Mandelkern {{!}} Kalender {{!}} Monopol – Magazin für Kunst und Leben |website=archiv.monopol-magazin.de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622144101/http://archiv.monopol-magazin.de/kalender/termin/20102185/dortmunder-kunstverein-ev/NORBERT-BISKY-Mandelkern.html |archive-date=2019-06-22}}
• "crossing jordaan", Cokkie Snoei, Rotterdam und Amsterdam, Netherlands[http://cokkiesnoei.com/exhibitions/67/crossing-jordaan Gallery website]
• "Nefasto Máximo", Galería Espacio Mínimo, Madrid, Spain[http://www.espaciominimo.es/norbert-bisky-nefasto-maximo/ Gallery website]
• "Norbert Bisky: Paintings", Haifa Museum of Art, Haifa, Israel[https://www.hma.org.il/eng/Exhibitions/1828/Norbert_Bisky:_Paintings Museum website]

2008

• "cloud cuckoo land", Gallery Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai, India
• "privat", Galerie Crone, Berlin, Germany[https://www.bz-berlin.de/artikel-archiv/norbert-bisky-zeigt-sein-intimleben-in-der-ausstellung-privat-in-der-galerie-crone Article] in B.Z. newspaper
• "minimental", Cokkie Snoei Gallery, Rotterdam[http://cokkiesnoei.com/exhibitions/29/minimental Gallery website]

2007

• "Ich war's nicht", Haus am Waldsee, Berlin, Germany{{Cite web|url=https://hausamwaldsee.de/norbert-bisky-ich-wars-nicht/|title = Norbert Bisky – Ich war's nicht · HAUS AM WALDSEE|date = 7 August 2018}}
• "What's wrong with me", Leo Koenig Inc., New York, USA{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20141113233716/http://koenigandclinton.com/exhibitions/norbert-bisky-whats-wrong-with-me/ Gallery website]}}
• "Behind Innocence", Gallery Hyundai, Seoul, South Korea[http://galleryhyundai.com/en/?c=exhibition&s=1&mode=past&op=&past=&year=2007&gbn=view&gp=1&ix=249 Gallery website]

2006

• "Total Care", Contemporary Art Center, Vilnius, Lithuania
• "es tut mir so leid", Galerie Michael Schultz, Berlin, Germany[https://www.schultzberlin.com/en/exhibition/es-tut-mir-so-leid Gallery website]

2005

• "Norbert Bisky", Studio d'Arte Cannaviello, Milan, Italy{{Cite web|url=http://cargocollective.com/cannaviello/Norbert-Bisky|title=Norbert Bisky – Studio d'arte Cannaviello}}
• "Déluge", Galerie Suzanne Tarasiève, Paris, France
• "Malerei", Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, Germany

2004

• "The Proud, the Few", Leo Koenig Inc., New York, USA{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20141113234016/http://koenigandclinton.com/exhibitions/norbert-bisky-the-proud-the-few/ Gallery website]}}
• "Abgesagt", Mannheimer Kunstverein, Mannheim, Germany
• "Opkomst en Verval", Cokkie Snoei Gallery, Rotterdam, Netherlands[http://cokkiesnoei.com/artists/29/bisky-norbert/biography Gallery website]

2003

• "Schlachteplatte", Galerie Michael Schultz, Berlin, Germany[https://www.schultzberlin.com/de/publication/schlachteplatte Gallery website]

2002

• "Norbert Bisky", Museum Junge Kunst, Frankfurt/Oder, Germany

2001

• "Wir werden siegen", Galerie Michael Schultz, Berlin, Germany[https://www.schultzberlin.com/de/publication/wir-werden-siegen Gallery website]
• "Almauftrieb", Kulturbrauerei Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, Germany
• "Vorkämpfer", Chelsea Kunstraum, Cologne, Germany

• Hall Art Foundation
• MoMA[https://www.moma.org/artists/28565 MoMA Website]
• Palm Springs Art Museum
• National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon, South Korea
• Israel Museum, Jerusalem{{Cite web | url=https://www.juedische-allgemeine.de/kultur/bild-von-norbert-bisky-in-sammlung-aufgenommen/ | title=Bild von Norbert Bisky in Sammlung aufgenommen | date=23 June 2021 }}
• Fonds National d'Art Contemporain, Paris, France
• Berlinische Galerie, Berlin, Germany
• Deutsche Bank Collection, Frankfurt, Germany
• G2 Kunsthalle, Leipzig, Germany
• Kunsthalle Rostock
• Museum der bildenden Künste, Leipzig, Germany
• Brandenburgisches Landesmuseum für moderne Kunst, Frankfurt/Oder, Germany
• Museum Ludwig, Cologne, Germany
• Stiftung Kunstforum der Berliner Volksbank, Berlin, Germany
• Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany
• Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
• Schlossmuseum Murnau, Murnau am Staffelsee, Germany
• Ellipse Foundation, Lisbon, Portugal
• The MER Collection, Segovia, Spain

• List of German painters

{{Reflist}}

• Mullins, Charlotte (2006). Painting People: Figure Painting Today. New York: Distributed Art Publishers. {{ISBN|978-1-933045-38-2}}

• [https://www.norbertbisky.com Official website]
• [http://www.exberliner.com/art/76/interview-norbert-bisky Interview with Norbert Bisky in Exberliner Magazine]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070427151804/http://www.leokoenig.com/artist/view/442 Leo Koenig Inc.: Norbert Bisky]
• [https://archive.today/20121218190143/http://www.hma.org.il/Museum/Templates/showpage.asp?DBID=1&TMID=84&LNGID=1&FID=524&PID=3058 Haifa Museum of Art]
• [http://www.artnet.com/artist/92612/norbert-bisky.html Artnet.com profile]

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