Wolfgang Petrick in Potsdam: Conversation about the Tribute at Schloss Sacrow

An art historical conversation about Wolfgang Petrick at Schloss Sacrow

With the conversation I Work in Free Fall, Schloss Sacrow on July 5, 2026 places one of the most prominent German painters of the 20th and early 21st centuries at its center: Wolfgang Petrick. The event is conceived as a tribute and combines biographical reflection, art critical assessment, and personal memories from colleagues into a literary and culture-historically infused afternoon.

An artist between figure, fragment, and disturbance

Wolfgang Petrick, born in 1939 in Berlin and died in 2025 in Berlin, ranks among the distinctive voices of figurative painting in Germany. His works oscillate between critical realism, surreal intensification, and a visual language that never shies away from the grotesque. Those who engage with his oeuvre encounter an art of condensation: deformed bodies, distorted perspectives, nervous collages, and an imagery that makes societal fractures visible.

Master student, professor, networker of the Berlin art scene

His path through art history is closely linked with the Berlin scene. After studying at the Berlin University of the Arts, Petrick co-founded the legendary exhibition community Großgörschen 35 in 1964, later followed by the Aspekt group and a professorship for painting at the UdK, which shaped generations of artists. His international stations, including a studio in New York, also broadened his perspective on contemporary art. For his work he received, among other honors, the German Critics' Prize and several other significant awards.

Conversation format with first-hand memories

The format of the evening promises intimacy rather than mere artwork observation. Featuring Berit Myrebøe, René Wirths, Samira Freitag, and Rik Reinking, individuals who experienced Petrick as a mentor, artist, and formative figure will take the stage. Moderated by Michael M. Thoss, the conversation opens a rare access to artistic attitude, studio practice, and the question of how artistic consequence is shaped in the tension between historical context and individual signature.

Schloss Sacrow as an atmospheric framework

The location adds its own weight to the content. Schloss Sacrow on the western edge of Potsdam offers a cultural-historical setting that lends a special tranquility and concentration to the conversation. The address Krampnitzer Straße 33 represents a place where art, landscape, and historical architecture intertwine. For visitors, it creates not just a lecture, but a literary experience of reflection, supported by a reading atmosphere, author encounters, and discursive depth.

Conclusion: An afternoon for art lovers seeking depth

Anyone wanting to understand Wolfgang Petrick will find here more than a tribute. The conversation leads directly into a body of work that has shaped German art history with restless energy, formal radicalism, and human urgency. An appointment for all who appreciate cultural depth, vibrant memory, and art-critical context. Best experienced live.

Official channels of Wolfgang Petrick:

• Instagram: No official profile found
• Facebook: No official profile found
• Website: https://poll-berlin.de/galerie/en/gallery-artists/wolfgang-petrick/biography/
• Publisher: No official profile found

Sources:

• Museumsportal Berlin – Event: I Work in Free Fall
• Galerie Poll Berlin – Wolfgang Petrick Biography
• Kunststiftung Poll – Wolfgang Petrick Works in Collections
• Frankfurter Rundschau – On the Death of Wolfgang Petrick
• Kunstverein Buchholz – Brochure Wolfgang Petrick