Wolfgang Petrick was born in Berlin in 1939. As a student, he read biology at the Freie Universität (Free University) of Berlin (1958-1965) and simultaneously followed classes at the Berlin University of the Arts (HdK) all the way to Master’s level alongside fellow artist Werner Volkert. From 1975 to 2007, he was a professor at the HdK and has been a member of the Akademie der Künste (Academy of the Arts) in Berlin since 1993.
Together with Karl Horst Hödicke, Bernd Koberling, Markus Lüpertz, Peter Sorge and others, Petrick founded the exhibition group ‘Großgörschen 35’ in Berlin in 1964, the first self-help gallery (a producer gallery as it would be called today) in Germany. The purpose of this initiative was to give the emerging generation to means to create, exhibit and thrive. In 1972, he joined the Aspect group as a self-labelled ‘Critical Realist’.
Through the years, his work has evolved considerably. Initially concentrating primarily on painting, drawing, sculpture and graphic art, Petrick went on to adopt an expressionistic and crude aesthetic. His figures evolved to embrace the grotesque, the cartoonish, a blend of photorealism and image manipulation – the overall composition all the while gaining in freedom. More recent works borrow the contrasting flat perspectives present in street art murals, graphic design and music cover art. Photography eventually became integrated into his practice at the turn of the 21st century.
Recent exhibitions include: Go (o) d Speed, Stiftung Brandenburger Tor, Max Liebermann Haus, Berlin (2017); Die Erfolgreichen, Kunststiftung Poll, Berlin (2015); Turbulence, Galerie der Stadt Sindelfingen (2013); Turbulence, Galerie Geuer & Breckner, Düsseldorf (2013); Kunsthalle Dominikanerkirche Osnabrück (2012); P(R)UNK, Sammlung Falckenberg, Phoenix Kulturstiftung, Hamburg (2010-2011); Mutatio, Sara Asperger Gallery, Berlin (2008); Wolfgang Petrick – Grafika, Galerie Litera, Prague (2008); Bilder und Zeichnungen 1965-1987, Galerie Eva Poll, Berlin (2007); Good Slave, Bad Master, Galerie Michael Schultz, Berlin (2006); Endmoräne II, pepperprojects, Berlin (2004); Nestbau, Klostergalerie Zehdenick (Akademie der Künste) (2004); Monrovia Mon Amour, Buch und Material, Literaturhaus Berlin (2003); Volkstanz, Mappenwerk, Druckwerkstatt, Künstlerhaus Bethanien (2003); Volkstanz, Galerie Dieda / Art Bug, Bassano del Grappa, Italy (2003).
Petrick lives and works in Berlin.
