Anselm Kiefer presents a series of new paintings conceived on large material-rich canvases incorporating elements such as lead, ash, straw and wire. The layered surfaces and painterly marks reflect a deep engagement with the past, where individual and collective memory intertwine with symbolically charged materials. The exhibition coincides with the Kiefer / Van Gogh project at the Royal Academy of Arts in London and marks the first UK presentation dedicated to exploring the influence of the Dutch painter on Kiefer’s practice. The works echo the tension between raw matter and Van Gogh’s characteristic chromatic energy, reinterpreted through a darker and more stratified visual language. Installed across both gallery spaces at Mason’s Yard, the works create an introspective and monumental journey, alternating between open fields and rough textures punctuated by symbols, material gestures and mythological or literary references. The use of lead evokes alchemical and transformative themes, while ash and straw suggest cycles of destruction and rebirth. The predominantly painterly approach is enriched by sculptural components integrated into the canvases or suspended in space, amplifying the sense of works teetering between painting and installation. The visual experience thus becomes a meditation on time, loss and the ability of painterly language to evoke presences and traces of the past. The exhibition affirms Kiefer’s role as a leading figure in contemporary European art, capable of redefining the dialogue between myth, history and matter through expressive means that are both radical and poetic.
An exhibition celebrates Edwin Austin Abbey, a 19th-century American artist, showcasing his study for the monumental work The Hours created for the Pennsylvania State Capitol.
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