Gerhard Richter Church Windows

Gerhard Richter has been commissioned to design three stained-glass windows for Tholey Abbey in Saarland, Germany's oldest monastery church. The 87-year-old artist's designs will be unveiled in September, with the final installation expected by summer 2020 as part of the abbey's broader restoration. The project is being funded by a private investor and includes a collaboration with Richter’s longtime creative partner, the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.

This commission reinforces Richter’s status as Germany’s preeminent living artist and follows his celebrated 2007 window for the Cologne Cathedral. By integrating contemporary abstract art into a 5th-century religious site, the project highlights the ongoing dialogue between modernism and historic ecclesiastical architecture. It also marks a significant cultural moment for the Saarland region, pairing one of the world's most influential painters with a renowned composer in a site of immense historical importance.