The Georg Baselitz Contemporary Art Exhibition at Bilbao Fine Arts Museum

This exhibition presents nearly fifty paintings by Georg Baselitz, one of Europe's most influential contemporary artists, created over the last decade. Curated by Norman Rosenthal, the show explores Baselitz’s signature style of inverted figuration and his ongoing interrogation of autobiography, art history, and the body.

This major retrospective, curated by British historian Norman Rosenthal in close collaboration with the artist, brings together around fifty paintings produced by Georg Baselitz between 2014 and 2025. The works on display demonstrate the artist's enduring ability to reinvent his thematic repertoire, which has focused primarily on the human body, its parts, and their place within the broader history of art and human experience. Throughout his career, Baselitz has become globally recognized for his radical choice to paint figures upside down—a stylistic hallmark that challenges traditional perceptions and creates a world governed by a poignant, often absurd, lucidity. Beyond his iconic inverted figures, the exhibition highlights Baselitz's experimentation with materials, including his use of gold lacquer and collage with nylon stockings, which add layers of cultural and erotic complexity to his work. To provide deeper context, the museum has integrated five prominent pieces from its own collection by masters such as El Greco, Francisco de Zurbarán, and Lucas Cranach the Elder. This dialogue reveals the deep artistic genealogy that informs Baselitz’s practice, connecting his contemporary output with the traditions of the Renaissance, Romanticism, and global influences. The exhibition serves as a profound reflection on the creative potential of old age and the lasting vitality of an artist who continues to push the physical and expressive limits of painting.

Information regarding admission and tickets can be found through the official Bilbao Fine Arts Museum website portal. Visitors are encouraged to check the museum's plan-your-visit section for specific entry requirements and opening details.