The Neue Nationalgalerie presents a major show of the German artist’s works, focusing on his powerful series on the Holocaust.

A new exhibition showcasing the works of renowned German artist Gerhard Richter has opened at Berlin’s Neue Nationalgalerie museum. Titled “Gerhard Richter. 100 Works for Berlin”, the exhibition features a long-term loan of Richter’s works from his foundation.

At the heart of the exhibition is Richter’s 2014 series “Birkenau”, which explores the artist’s deep engagement with Germany’s Nazi past and the Holocaust. The series, consisting of four large canvases, is inspired by photographs secretly taken in 1944 by Jewish prisoners at the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp. These images were transferred to canvas by Richter and then obscured with layers of oil paint, reflecting his belief that the sheer horror of the Holocaust could not be fully captured through direct depiction.

Visitors to the exhibition encounter not only the haunting Birkenau series but also a mirror installation that reflects both the artwork and the viewers, challenging them to confront their own responsibility and perspective on the Holocaust. Curator Maike Steinkamp emphasized that Richter’s work prompts the audience to form their own interpretations rather than offering a direct analysis.

Richter, now 91, is one of Germany’s most celebrated contemporary artists, known for his exploration of both abstraction and figuration across a six-decade career. His collection will eventually be permanently housed at the Museum of the 20th Century, set to open in 2026. In the meantime, visitors can enjoy the rotating selection of Richter’s work at the Neue Nationalgalerie.