German painter Georg Baselitz, known for his expressionist works that confronted the horrors of Nazi Germany, died on April 30, 2026 at age 88. Born Hans-Georg Kern in 1938, he grew up amid World War II rubble and became a pioneering, anti-conformist figure of the post-war era, famously inverting his images to force viewers to reconstruct meaning. A major exhibition, 'GEORG BASELITZ – AVANTI!', had just opened on March 25 at the Museo Novecento in Florence, focusing on his graphic works and his ties to the city. Another show, 'Georg Baselitz. Eroi d’Oro', was set to open May 6 at the Fondazione Giorgio Cini in Venice during the 61st Venice Biennale, featuring large recent paintings and portraits of his wife Elke.
Baselitz's death marks the loss of one of Germany's most influential post-war artists, whose radical inversion of imagery challenged academic conventions and reshaped contemporary visual language. His legacy is underscored by the simultaneous exhibitions in Florence and Venice, which highlight his enduring relevance and his deep connection to Italian art and culture. The tribute from Museo Novecento director Sergio Risaliti emphasizes Baselitz's inexhaustible imagination and his ability to maintain tension between figurative ideas and deep impulses, ensuring his work will remain a milestone in art history.