Norbert Kricke and Dieter Krieg: Exploring Linearity and Space at Galerie Friese
Berlin’s Galerie Friese is currently hosting a joint exhibition featuring the works of Norbert Kricke and Dieter Krieg, two significant figures in postwar German art. The exhibition, open from March 14th to April 18th, 2026, showcases the distinct yet complementary explorations of space, line, and form by these artists.
Norbert Kricke: A Pioneer of Postwar German Art
Norbert Kricke (1922–1984) is recognized as a central protagonist of postwar German art. His work, encompassing three-dimensional sculptures and drawings, consistently investigates the concept of line within space. The exhibition features pieces from the 1950s and 1970s, curated in collaboration with the artist’s estate.
A particular highlight of Kricke’s contribution is a series of large-format, minimalist drawings from 1976. These works employ black ink lines that dramatically traverse the drawing surface, transforming it into a dynamic pictorial space. Kricke’s work is viewed as a liberating act of new beginnings, profoundly influencing subsequent generations and redefining the boundaries of sculpture and drawing. Art at Berlin notes the significance of his impact.
Notably, Kricke served as the rector of the Düsseldorf State Academy of Art from 1972 to 1981. During his tenure, he appointed Dieter Krieg as a professor in 1978, setting the stage for the current joint exhibition.
Dieter Krieg: Early Explorations of Spatiality
The exhibition also presents a focused glance at the lesser-known early work of Dieter Krieg (1937–2005), with pieces created between 1970 and 1972. These works, often executed with spray paint on paper, delve into fundamental questions of spatiality and the nature of objects, utilizing highly reduced artistic means.
While these early, minimalist pieces don’t fully foreshadow his later artistic development, they already reveal a defining characteristic of Krieg’s oeuvre: a sense of patina, a physical and human presence inherent in his depictions. ART at Berlin highlights this quality, noting how even seemingly empty spaces within his work evoke a human presence.
Exhibition Details
Opening: Friday, March 13th, 2026, 6–8 pm
Exhibition Dates: Saturday, March 14th – Saturday, April 18th, 2026
Location: Galerie Friese, Meierottostraße 1, 10719 Berlin, Germany. The gallery is open Tuesday–Friday from 11 am to 6 pm, and Saturdays from 12 pm to 4 pm. Galerie Friese provides further details.