Adrian Ghenie

Adrian Ghenie (Romania, 1977) is a contemporary painter whose work blends figurative and abstract elements to explore themes of history, memory, and identity. Utilizing a palette knife, he creates dynamic textures and complex compositions. Ghenie co-founded Galeria Plan B in Cluj-Napoca and has exhibited internationally, including representing Romania at the 56th Venice Biennale.

© Adrian Ghenie. All rights reserved.

Study for the devil 3

Adrian Ghenie

Study for the devil 3, 2010

Limited Edition Print

Inkjet print

EUR 3,675

Nevermore (Portfolio of 7)

Adrian Ghenie

Nevermore (Portfolio of 7), 2020

Limited Edition Print

Digital Print on paper

EUR 18,000 - 24,000

Lenore

Adrian Ghenie

Lenore, 2020

Limited Edition Print

Digital Print on paper

EUR 3,700

Edgar Allan Poe

Adrian Ghenie

Edgar Allan Poe, 2020

Limited Edition Print

Digital Print on paper

EUR 3,700

Charles Baudelaire

Adrian Ghenie

Charles Baudelaire, 2020

Limited Edition Print

Digital Print on paper

EUR 3,700

The Raven

Adrian Ghenie

The Raven, 2020

Limited Edition Print

Digital Print on paper

EUR 3,700

Stéphane Mallarmé

Adrian Ghenie

Stéphane Mallarmé, 2020

Limited Edition Print

Digital Print on paper

EUR 3,700

Fernando Pessoa

Adrian Ghenie

Fernando Pessoa, 2020

Limited Edition Print

Digital Print on paper

EUR 3,700

Nevermore

Adrian Ghenie

Nevermore, 2020

Limited Edition Print

Digital Print on paper

EUR 3,700

No sold works to show.

I’m not a history painter.

- Adrian Ghenie
Characterized by vivid reinterpretation of the past, Adrian Ghenie has emerged as a sought after young artist of our time. Born in Romania, Ghenie had brought up his native as well as other cultures' histories for reexamination. Vibrant styles married with his effort to rediscover past have made art connoisseurs to compare him with twentieth century Irish-born English artist Francis Bacon.

Ghenie has used oil on canvas as his preferred media, but he has also produced mixed media, collage, and sketch. His style is participatory in nature, where the viewer would experience the way the art was created. To this end, in his paintings bold strokes of palette knife is visible, revealing the textures.

In his own words, Adrian Ghenie is like a paparazzi for textures as he wants to explore and save the textures of a time period in the artwork.  For instance, this process is clearly visible in the 2019 oil on canvas "The Raft," where the viewers get a tour of how the painting was painted. The viewers experience a sense of the artist's thought process when they find a closer look changes the meaning of the subject matter in a very elusive way.  Another of his work "Charles Darwin as a Young Man" brings in an influential historic figure, hence Charles Darwin, and explores the implications of his scientific theory, notably the darker side of it. In essence, Ghenie's works are sure to make viewers think and reconsider, whatever the topic is.

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What is figurative art?Artwork by Alex Katz

What is figurative art?

Sometimes known as Figurativism, figurative art refers to sculptures and paintings that are clearly or specifically derived from real objects, making them representational. The term figurative art is often used in contrast to abstract art. However, since the emergence of abstract art, figurative art has come to describe any form of modern art that has strong…

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