Known for its bright colors, textural strokes, and brutish manner, Neo-expressionism grew to popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. The stylistic beginnings are said to be rooted in Germany, when Georg Baselitz opened a controversial exhibition in West Berlin in 1963. From there, Baselitz led a group of German artists known as Neue Wilden, or ‘New Fauves,’ who together ushered in a revival of figurative painting.

While the first use of the term “Neo-Expressionism” is unknown, it was widely used to describe new German and Italian art, as well as United States postwar art, by the start of the 80s. Overall, the practice attracted a range of artists from across the globe, and the aesthetic seemingly dominated the art market in Europe and the United States until the mid-1980s.
While traditional expressionism focused on personal and spiritual themes of the early 20th century, this style earned the “neo” prefix by being a bit more confrontational. More so, this aesthetic was a direct reaction against the minimal and conceptual art of the 60s and 70s. Neo-expressionists sought to reintroduce emotion, representation, and storytelling into a world which, at the time, relied heavily on stylistically cool forms and simplicity:


When it comes to the artistic variations across Neo-expressionist works, you’ll often see nods to graffiti and pop culture alongside political and social commentary. It’s worth noting that this aesthetic continues to be (rightfully) critiqued for it’s perceived ‘ugliness’ and latent sexism, as no women were directly represented in the movement. Alas, some notable figures of Neo-expressionism include:
1. Georg Baselitz:
As mentioned, Baselitz is one of the earliest recognized members of the Neo-expressionist movement. He grew up in post-World War II East Germany, thus many of his artworks touch on the struggles of German history. One distinctive element about his style is his frequent painting of upside down figures, like a modern-day counterpart to the “topsy-turvy” effect.

2. Anselm Kiefer:
Another German artist, Kiefer often painted at a massive scale and involved natural materials, such as ash, straw, lead, and sand, to explore what was possible through art. He also often depicted mythical scenes and themes of the Holocaust to underscore the fact that creativity can emerge from destruction.

3. Julian Schnabel:
Schnabel began his artistic career in New York in the late 1970s as Neo-expressionism expanded into the United States. He quickly became known for his his outlandish behavior and egotism, reflected across his loud works made with unconventional materials. He frequently featured Catholic and Meso-American iconography due to his family living close to the Mexican border in Texas.

4. Francesco Clemente:
From Italy, Clemente joined the Neo-expressionist movement by combining a classical aesthetic with depictions of humans and their psychological conditions. In contrast to painters like Baselitz and Schanbel, Clemente embraced a wide range of cross-cultural ideas as he questioned what was real and of value to the human spirit.

5. Jean-Michel Basquiat:
Lastly, my personal favorite, Basquiat rapidly evolved from graffiti art to celebrity art through his unique style and portrayal of tension. His work was a vehicle for commenting on his experiences as a Black Puerto Rican-Haitian man in America, and he often expressed outrage at systemic racism and colonialism. He was known for establishing a “dialogue” in his paintings through added words and symbols.

At the end of the 1980s, Neo-expressionism saw a decline, which scholars attribute to the movement’s over-production and the collapse of the art market. These same scholars continue to debate the exact role of Neo-expressionism in art history and where it falls along the timeline of modernism. Either way, the aesthetic served as a catalyst to the current post-modern aesthetic that we see today.
Sources:
https://www.theartstory.org/movement/neo-expressionism/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-expressionism
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/feb/14/georg-baselitz-interview
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/morris-untitled-t01532
https://www.wikiart.org/en/ronald-bladen/the-x-1965
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/baselitz-adieu-t03672
https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/athanor-anselm-kiefer/BQHRxvA0G1xgeA?hl=en
https://www.julianschnabel.com/paintings/plate-paintings-items/the-patients-and-the-doctors
https://www.facebook.com/brantfoundation/posts/the-14-stations-vi-1981-1982-by-francesco-clemente-the-fourteen-stations-is-a-se/2688764184498018/
https://www.artsy.net/artwork/jean-michel-basquiat-untitled-25
4 Comments. Leave new
Hey Eli! This was such an insightful read …Neo-expressionism is such a bold and fascinating aesthetic, and I love how you broke down its evolution and key figures. I didn’t realize how much of a reaction it was to the minimalism of the 60s and 70s, which makes it even more interesting.
Quick question—do you think the themes of Neo-expressionism still influences contemporary art?
Hi Shreya, thanks for sharing your thoughts! I also found it interesting that Neo-expressionism was meant to counteract minimalism. And such a good question – I do think Neo-expressionism influences today’s contemporary art movement, especially the use of mixed materials and political, social, and cultural symbolism. On the flip side, I think contemporary art is sometimes less ‘messy’ and more focused on form and minimal artistry (like the 60s and 70s). I would love to hear your thoughts on that too!
Eli I think this is a very well down analysis of Neo-expressionism. I almost chose to cover this topic, but I think you did so excellently. I like your choice of artist, and the obligatory Basquiat mention, but I love how you chose to speak on the impact of war on the movement. I think this is often overlooked, and is a shame when considering the trials that must have been overcome to create work like this. I would have loved to hear your personal connection with the movement and what drew you in !
Hi Rystan, thanks for your thoughts and for highlighting the impact of war on the movement! I also agree that it is a shame to overlook the context of this art movement (and others) and the resilience of the accompanying artists. My personal connection to Neo-expressionism came by way of street art and graffiti, which I have always been interested in and utilized as an art medium during my few years of living in Asheville, NC. There was a skate park and graffiti hub known as The Foundation where artists could get a license to add their art to the various buildings in radius. This community led my learning about Basquiat, thus I became a fan of his work and the larger Neo-expressionism movement. I’d love to hear about your ties to the aesthetic as well!