Markus Lüpertz – the ‘Prince of Painters’ and his students

The ‘Prince

of

Painters’

Markus Lüpertz is one of the best-known contemporary German artists. He is a painter, graphic artist and sculptor, and has often been dubbed the ‘Prince of Painters’ by the press. Lüpertz was Rector of the Düsseldorf Art Academy for 21 years and now teaches at the University of Kolbermoor. Some of our students are also taught by him, including Martine Schlepperle and Valerie Cee.

A rocky start

The artist, who was born in Reichenberg, began an apprenticeship as a painter of wine bottle labels but was thrown out due to a lack of talent. His second mentor, a graphic designer, went bankrupt, and his time at the Düsseldorf Art Academy was also limited to just one year after he was expelled. From 1961 onwards, he worked as a freelance artist in Düsseldorf.

Valerie Cee

One of Markus Lüpertz’s students is Valerie Cee.

Valerie Cee was born (*1987) and grew up in the beautiful city of Salzburg. She has been living and working in Munich for several years now. Even as a child, painting and drawing offered her a place of refuge and a space to dream. Valerie Cee, who lost her colour vision for almost half a year following a stroke, found a new creative direction in this challenge. Her works are an expression of emotions and memories that come to life through textures and contrasts. Valerie Cee has been a student of Prof. Markus Lüpertz since 2022. Under his guidance, her art has reached new heights and gained in expressiveness.

Karlsruhe and poetry

In 1973, Lüpertz became a visiting lecturer at the Academy of Fine Art in Karlsruhe and was appointed professor the following year.

In a poem, he summed up the significance that the city of Karlsruhe held for him:

“Karlsruhe was my first taste of freedom
Dark Berlin ruled my life
The cold nights and unheated studios
The main street, the corner pub, the lack of fame
[…]
And Karlsruhe beckoned to me, the thirty-year-old
And the city and its possibilities switched on the light
Warmed me with southern charm
And idyllic squares […]”

Düsseldorf – a return

In 1988, Lüpertz became director of the Düsseldorf Art Academy and nurtured many great talents. He also appointed internationally renowned artists to several of the professorships. He taught here for 21 years and was known for his great passion for painting, which was particularly encouraged under his leadership.

Martina Schepperle

Tini MS, whose real name is Martina Schepperle, is a German artist from Schwäbisch Hall and is studying under Markus Lüpertz. She lives and works in the Kitzbühel Alps in Tyrol, where she is surrounded by magnificent natural scenery. Tini has already exhibited her art internationally in Italy, Spain and France. She paints her nudes and observations of nature on paper and canvas with a fresh and free style. In doing so, she captures moments, tells stories and expresses feelings and emotions. Through her works, the artist invites the viewer to immerse themselves in their own world of perception. Tini is currently a master’s student under the painterly genius Markus Lüpertz at the Kolbermoor Academy of Fine Art.

Painting, music, poetry

Music and literature also played an important role in Lüpertz’s life. As well as painting, he also wrote poetry and learnt to play the piano. He often answers interview questions in a very poetic way.

Lüpertz’s answer to the question of how one can invent oneself was:

“You look in the mirror and examine a few things: What sort of family am I part of, to what extent am I dependent on these stories, am I dependent on what my father was like, was I loved or not loved? You take stock of a few hurts, but also the happiness, the good things too. And then you decide to be independent; that’s where it all begins. You make a pact with yourself: you no longer want to be ugly, you no longer want to be fat, you no longer want to be stupid, you no longer want to be the boy who had little money. You invent your own strengths. So I decided to be a handsome man and a genius. I trained my body and my mind. I had to conquer everything myself – the decisions of a free spirit.”

– Markus Lüpertz 2006^[23]

Chaos and Power

In his paintings, Markus Lüpertz aims, on the one hand, to inspire euphoria in the viewer whilst, at the same time, showcasing chaos or a certain disorder. His works are often expressive, highly evocative and exude a certain power. His wide-ranging knowledge and extensive experience make him one of Germany’s most significant contemporary artists.

We’ve picked out a few artists for you who we believe combine chaos and euphoria in their work. Simply click on the image to find out more about the artists.

At SKM, let yourself be inspired by, amongst other things, expressive pencil drawings or acrylic paintings by our students. Not sure which artwork is right for you? Then let us advise you free of charge.