Neo-expressionist, one artist at a time

13 Famous Neo-expressionist Artistas Who Shaped the Movement

Jean Michel Basquiat (1960–1988) is the most famous Neo-expressionist artista, whose singular vision gave us Untitled (ernok) e Fishing Fish. Next stand Anselm Kiefer, Cy Twombly, Julian Schnabel e Georg Baselitz. These 13 artistas, from Philip Guston (born 1913) to Chris Ofili (born 1968), came from 4 countries.

Our selection. Artists whose works our catalogue attaches to Neo-expressionist, in the order of our fame ranking. Artists born after 1955 with no Wikidata identifier stay out until verified. The Wikipedia figure counts our 32 languages with an article on the artist.

  1. Untitled (ernok), de Jean Michel Basquiat1Jean Michel Basquiat
  2. Böhmen liegt am Meer (Bohemia Lies by the Sea), de Anselm Kiefer2Anselm Kiefer
  3. Cold Stream, de Cy Twombly3Cy Twombly

In brief

Neo-expressionist in brief

  • 13Artistas
  • 1913–1968Anos de nascimento
  • 4Países de origem
  • 1Mulheres
  • 5Artistas vivos
  • 545Obras em nosso catálogo
Cidades com mais nascimentos
Brooklyn (2), Donaueschingen (1), Lexington (1), Deutschbaselitz (1)
As mulheres desta lista
Jennifer Bartlett

One artist at a time

13 Neo-expressionist Artistas and their signature works

1of 13

Jean Michel Basquiat

Americano Born in Brooklyn Neo-Expressionismo Wikipedia in 29/32 languages

Jean Michel Basquiat

By the early 1980s, Basquiat transitioned from graffiti to canvas, rapidly gaining recognition within the New York art world. The crown, perhaps his most iconic symbol, has been interpreted as a representation of aspiration, self-mythologization, and the complexities of Black identity in America. In the years since his death, Basquiat’s reputation has only grown.

Signature works · The 100 signature works

2of 13

Anselm Kiefer

Born in Donaueschingen Wikipedia in 23/32 languages

Anselm Kiefer

Anselm Kiefer posiciona-se como uma das vozes mais profundas e distintas do Neoexpressionismo, um movimento artístico que emergiu no final dos anos 1970 e início dos anos 1980 como uma poderosa reação contra a austeridade do Minimalismo e da Arte Conceitual. Nascido em Donaueschingen, Alemanha, em 1945, a própria existência de Kiefer está intrinsecamente ligada aos desdobramentos da Segunda Guerra Mundial.

Signature works · The 100 signature works

3of 13

Cy Twombly

Americano Born in Lexington Expressionismo Abstrato Wikipedia in 21/32 languages

Cy Twombly

Edwin Parker Twombly Jr., conhecido mundialmente como Cy Twombly, foi uma força singular no século XX e XXI da arte – um pintor, escultor e fotógrafo americano cuja obra desafiou qualquer categorização fácil.

Signature works · The 100 signature works

4of 13

Julian Schnabel

American Born in Brooklyn Neo-Expressionismo

Julian Schnabel

Julian Schnabel emergiu da vibrante, muitas vezes caótica cena artística de Nova York dos anos 1980 como uma força da natureza, desafiando convenções e redesenhando as possibilidades da pintura. Nascido em Brooklyn em 1951, sua vida precoce tomou um curso inesperado quando sua família se mudou para Brownsville, Texas, em 1965—uma experiência formativa que lhe inculcou uma sensação de outsider status e uma fascinação por ambientes selvagens e pouco domesticados.

Signature works · The 100 signature works

5of 13

Georg Baselitz

Alemão Born in Deutschbaselitz Neoexpressionismo Wikipedia in 26/32 languages

Georg Baselitz

Nascido Hans-Georg Bruno Kern em 23 de janeiro de 1938, na pequena aldeia alemã de Deutschbaselitz, o artista que viria a ser conhecido mundialmente como Georg Baselitz foi um filho de profundas transições e agitações.

Signature works · The 100 signature works

6of 13

Philip Guston

Born in Montreal Wikipedia in 15/32 languages

Philip Guston

Philip Guston, nascido Phillip Goldstein em Montreal, Canadá, em 1913, foi um artista cuja trajetória artística se estendeu por mais de quatro décadas, marcada por transformações radicais e uma exploração incansável das complexidades da experiência humana. De suas raízes em Los Angeles a sua ascensão no cenário artístico de Nova York, Guston navegou por correntes de abstração e figuratividade, deixando uma marca indelével na história da arte moderna.

Signature works · The 100 signature works

7of 13

Chris Ofili

British Born in Manchester Punk art Wikipedia in 10/32 languages

Chris Ofili

His recognition as a member of the Young British Artists group brought him to the forefront of a generation that redefined contemporary painting. A defining moment in his career arrived in 1998 when he was awarded the prestigious Turner Prize, an achievement that highlighted his ability to spark intense public debate through works such as The Holy Virgin Mary.

Signature works · The 100 signature works

8of 13

Richard John Spare

Born in London

Richard John Spare

He has since created a vast body of work comprising over 400 images, primarily inspired by nature and travel. Spare’s works frequently depict wildlife, landscapes, and scenes encountered during his travels, rendered with expressive lines and subtle color palettes. His dedication to traditional printmaking techniques and his commitment to quality have helped preserve this valuable art form.

Signature works · The 100 signature works

9of 13

Rainer Fetting

Alemã Born in Wilhelmshaven Neoexpressonismo Wikipedia in 6/32 languages

Rainer Fetting

Rainer Fetting, nascido em Wilhelmshaven, Alemanha, em 1949, é uma figura fundamental no ressurgimento da pintura figurativa durante o final do século XX. Ao mudar-se para Berlim no início da década de 1970, Fetting matriculou-se na Hochschule der Künste (Academia de Belas Artes), estudando sob a orientação do Professor Hans Jaenisch.

Signature works · The 100 signature works

10of 13

Richard Spare

British Printmaking, Oil painting

Richard Spare

Richard John Spare, born in Chelmsford in 1951, embarked on a journey that would establish him as a pivotal figure in British printmaking and a celebrated artist in his own right. Following college, Spare's apprenticeship with Thomas Ross & Son proved invaluable. In 2025, the Open University bestowed upon him an Honorary Doctorate, recognizing his significant “Services to the Arts.” His works now reside in esteemed public collections including the Victoria & Albert Museum, British Library, and Hunterian Art Gallery, cementing his place within the canon of contemporary British art.

Signature works · The 100 signature works

11of 13

Anthony Sims

American Neo-expressionism, Glitch art

Anthony Sims

What sets Sims apart is not just his artistic vision but also his technical background. His interest in blockchain technology extends beyond mere artistic application, envisioning an NFT museum in Memphis dedicated to showcasing local talent and bridging the gap between physical and digital artworks.

Signature works · The 100 signature works

12of 13

Thiago Boecan

Brazilian ['Neo-Figurative Art', 'Abstract Art']

Thiago Boecan

The influence of Brazilian Neo- Figurative Art is palpable – a movement known for its psychological intensity and exploration of the human condition. This process often involves a captivating interplay of vibrant reds and browns, as seen in works like ‘ Color Study C-1 ’, where color itself becomes a vehicle for exploring internal tensions.

Signature works · The 100 signature works

Signature works

Signature Neo-expressionist works

  1. Untitled (ernok), de Jean Michel Basquiat

    Untitled (ernok)

    Jean Michel Basquiat

  2. Böhmen liegt am Meer (Bohemia Lies by the Sea), de Anselm Kiefer

    Böhmen liegt am Meer (Bohemia Lies by the Sea)

    Anselm Kiefer

    1996

  3. Cold Stream, de Cy Twombly

    Cold Stream

    Cy Twombly

    1966

  4. Ornamental Despair, de Julian Schnabel

    Ornamental Despair

    Julian Schnabel

  5. Supper in Dresden, de Georg Baselitz

    Supper in Dresden

    Georg Baselitz

    1983 · Kunsthaus Zürich, Zurique

  6. The Pit, de Philip Guston

    The Pit

    Philip Guston

    1976

  7. The Holy Virgin Mary, de Chris Ofili

    The Holy Virgin Mary

    Chris Ofili

    1996 · MoMA - Museu de Arte Moderna, Nova York

  8. Puffin Pair, de Richard John Spare

    Puffin Pair

    Richard John Spare

    2010

A timeline

Neo-expressionist through its signature works

  1. 1966
  2. 1976
  3. 1983
  4. 1983
  5. 1991
  6. 1996
  7. 1996
  8. 2010

Figures

The figures

Every name

List of 13 famous Neo-expressionist artistas, every name

  1. 1Jean Michel BasquiatJean Michel BasquiatAmericano · 1960–1988
  2. 2Anselm KieferAnselm Kiefernascido(a) em 1945
  3. 3Cy TwomblyCy TwomblyAmericano · 1928–2011
  4. 4Julian SchnabelJulian SchnabelAmerican · nascido(a) em 1951
  5. 5Georg BaselitzGeorg BaselitzAlemão · 1938–2026
  6. 6Philip GustonPhilip Guston1913–1980
  7. 7Chris OfiliChris OfiliBritish · nascido(a) em 1968
  8. 8Richard John SpareRichard John Sparenascido(a) em 1951
  9. 9Rainer FettingRainer FettingAlemã · nascido(a) em 1949
  10. 10Richard SpareRichard SpareBritish ·
  11. 11Anthony SimsAnthony SimsAmerican ·
  12. 12Thiago BoecanThiago BoecanBrazilian ·
  13. 13Jennifer BartlettJennifer BartlettAmerican · 1941–2022

Questions

Your questions

  • Which Neo-expressionist artista is the most famous?

    First place goes to Jean Michel Basquiat (#1); Anselm Kiefer (#2) and Cy Twombly (#3) complete the podium.

  • Who are the 5 most famous Neo-expressionist artistas?

  • In which period did Neo-expressionist art flourish?

    Most artistas in this list were born in the 1940s (3 of 13), between 1913 and 1968 overall.

  • Where were most Neo-expressionist artistas born?

    Estados Unidos: 4 of the 13 artistas in this list were born there, then Alemanha (3) e United Kingdom (2).

  • Who are the most famous female Neo-expressionist artistas?

    This list includes 1 women: Jennifer Bartlett (#13).

  • Who was the first Neo-expressionist artista?

    The earliest-born artista in this list is Philip Guston (#6), born in 1913.

  • Which techniques define Neo-expressionist art?

    “A técnica de Kiefer é caracterizada por uma camada intensa e espessa de impasto.” — from our biography of Anselm Kiefer (#2).

  • Where are the great works of Neo-expressionist art today?

    The museums holding the most key works of this list are Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (1), Museu Guggenheim Bilbao (1) e Metropolitan Museum of Art (1).

  • Which city was home to the most Neo-expressionist artistas?

    Brooklyn: 2 of the artistas in this list were born there.

  • Who are famous Neo-expressionist artistas today?

    The highest-ranked living artistas in this list are Anselm Kiefer (#2), Julian Schnabel (#4), Chris Ofili (#7), Richard John Spare (#8) e Rainer Fetting (#9).

  • Where can I see more works by these artistas?

    Our catalogue holds 545 works by these artistas.

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