Anselm Kiefer: Nymphäum Exhibition of Contemporary Paintings at Thaddaeus Ropac

Nymphäum presents a new body of work by Anselm Kiefer, featuring over 20 paintings that explore the intersection of classical mythology and the natural world. Through richly layered paint and collaged elements, Kiefer transforms the gallery into a sanctuary for mythological nymphs, reflecting on themes of destruction, rebirth, and human history.

In Nymphäum, Anselm Kiefer presents a new chapter in his decades-long investigation into the interweaving of myth and matter. The title refers to ancient sanctuaries dedicated to nymphs, which Kiefer reinterprets as a painterly environment where classical figures inhabit both idyllic settings and distinctly modern cityscapes. By amassing and reworking motifs, Kiefer uses the nymph as a conduit to address humanity’s entanglement with the cyclical nature of destruction and rebirth. His surfaces, built from charcoal, straw, shellac, and sediment of electrolysis, create tactile, layered terrains where figures appear to emerge from and recede into the canvas. The exhibition also draws connections between Kiefer’s work and classical art history, referencing myths of Naiaids, Nereids, and Oceanids alongside iconic artistic sources like William Bouguereau’s Les Oréades. Through his use of innovative materials—including gold leaf and metallic sediments—Kiefer transforms the gallery into a space of remembrance. As curator Corinna Thierolf observes, the paintings function as soulscapes, where the artist attempts to provide fleeting shelter to these ephemeral beings, capturing the delicate tension between memory and oblivion.

The exhibition is open to the public at Thaddaeus Ropac in Paris Pantin. Visitors are encouraged to visit the gallery's official website for more information regarding current exhibitions and access details.