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She became known in the 1980s as part of the “Neue Wilde” (New Wild Ones). This new generation of artists sought to banish the cerebral styles of the 1970s from the canvases and brought an abundance of imagery into the era.
We don’t need any trouble, all we need is love. (1985)
Elvira Bach was born on June 22, 1951, in Neuenhain, Hesse.
From 1967 to 1970, she studied at the State Glass Technical School in Hadamar. She then moved to Berlin and studied painting at the University of the Arts Berlin from 1972 to 1979, ultimately becoming a master student of the informal painter Hann Trier, alongside contemporaries Rainer Fetting, Salomé, and Helmut Middendorf, who studied under Karl Horst Hödicke. During her studies, she worked at the Berliner Schaubühne, then under the direction of Peter Stein, as a props assistant, prompter, and foyer attendant. A scholarship took Elvira Bach to the Dominican Republic. In 1982, she was invited to documenta 7 in Kassel. This was her breakthrough, followed by national and international exhibitions.
Her neo-expressionistic portraits of women reflect the themes of her own life. The resemblance of the images to her own person is unmistakable. The works of the early 1980s mostly revolved around the theme of “I” (Night Owl, Sophisticated Lady, Always Me). After marriage, the birth of her sons, and withdrawal into domestic life, her works increasingly reflected her family environment (Children, Kitchen, Art). She has remained true to her painting style to this day. Her works are housed in public collections and museums. In addition to painting, Elvira Bach also works on bronze sculptures, ceramics, and Murano glass sculptures.
She became known in the 1980s as part of the “Neue Wilde” (New Wild Ones). This new generation of artists aimed to banish the cerebral styles of the 1970s from the canvases and brought an abundance of pictoriality to the era.
Born in 1951 in Neuenhain in the Taunus region alongside her twin sister Ingrid.
1967-1970 Attended the Glass School in Hadamar.
1972-1979 Studied under Hann Trier at the University of the Arts in Berlin.
1972-1980 Worked at the Schaubühne am Halleschen Ufer in Berlin under the direction of Peter Stein, serving as a props manager, foyer attendant, and prompter.
1982 Artist in Residence in Santo Domingo; participated in documenta 7 in Kassel.
1984 Birth of her son Lamine.
1986-1992 Regular work stays in Senegal.
1992 Birth of her son Maodo.
1993 Wall mural at the Fulda Courthouse.
1997-2000 Work stays on Saint Lucia.
Since 1998, creating ceramic sculptures and glass works in Murano.
2000 Work on large sculptures; first exhibition with the Galerie am Dom, which has showcased the artist’s work since 1992, at the municipal exhibition hall in Wetzlar.
Since 2003, working with bronze.
2005 Second municipal project in Wetzlar with the Galerie am Dom at the City Hall.
2009 New series of works in black and white.
2011 Oberhessisches Museum, Gießen in cooperation with Galerie am Dom.
2013 Limburg Cultural Office in cooperation with Galerie am Dom.
2014 Exhibition participation “The 80s. Figurative Painting in the Federal Republic of Germany” at the Städel Museum, Frankfurt; 2015 art Karlsruhe with Galerie am Dom; Exhibition participation “Nieuwe Wilden” at the Groningen Museum, NL; “Am I beautiful,” Elvira Bach in the Taunus.
2016 Galerie am Dom exhibition “Am I beautiful” at Kelkheim Town Hall.
2019 Galerie am Dom exhibition “I Love You” at the Stadtgalerie Bad Soden.
2023 Retrospective at the Ernst Barlach Museum in Wedel.
2023
Ausstellung mit Elvira Bach, Galerie ART AFFAIR, Regensburg
2021
Herbstschau, Galerie ART AFFAIR, Regensburg
2021
70 Jahre Elvira Bach, Bode Galerie & Edition, Nürnberg
2020
Museum Bensheim, Bensheim
2015
Museum für zeitgenössische Kunst – Diether Kunerth, Ottobeuren
2013
Galerie Art350, Istanbul
2010
Museum Europäische Kunst (NRW), Schloss Nörvenich, bei Köln
2001
Bayrisches Landesmuseum im Kloster Asbach
. . .
1982
documenta 7, Kassel
