Ponti Art Gallery is interested in buying and selling works
of art by this artist.
Kai Althoff Biography
Kai Althoff, born in Cologne, Germany, in February 1966, is a multifaceted German visual artist and musician whose work defies easy categorization. Althoff's oeuvre encompasses a wide range of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, video, installation, and music, making him one of the most intriguing and enigmatic figures in contemporary art. His work is known for its ability to evoke a sense of enigmatic foreboding, blending art-historical references with highly personal utopias and sometimes violent or erotic undertones.
Raised with the anti-authoritarian ideals of his West-German parents, Althoff's approach to art-making was significantly shaped by his upbringing. He is entirely self-taught, having attended art school but never completing his studies. Instead, Althoff immersed himself in the art and music demi-monde of Cologne in the 1980s, where he befriended influential artists such as Michael Krebber and Cosima von Bonin. Since 1990, Althoff has been part of the musical collaboration 'Workshop' with Christoph Rath, Stephan Abry, and Stefan Mohr.
Althoff's refusal to separate the spheres of work and life is evident in his decision never to own or rent a studio for his practice. This unconventional approach extends to his public persona, which he has described as contrarian, stating in an interview that he was 'like a child' and did not wish to be remembered. His exhibitions often create immersive environments that resemble emporiums more than traditional gallery spaces, inviting viewers to engage in free association and revel in the open-endedness of his work.
Althoff's art is deeply influenced by a variety of sources, including German Expressionism, religious imagery, and the childlike work of the CoBrA artists. His paintings and drawings often feature somber tones and explore themes of community, history, and personal and collective identity. Notable works include a video titled "Dirk Frithjof Waanders," which delves into themes of nationalism and rites of passage, and "Erwachsen werden, Fabio (Growing Up, Fabio)," a series of drawings addressing gay sexuality within the context of the 1970s movement for sexual and political liberation.
In 2016, Althoff curated the exhibition "Kai Althoff: and then leave me to the common swifts (und dann überlässt mich den mauerseglern)" at MoMA, New York. This exhibition transformed a section of the gallery into an immersive environment, featuring a white wooden ramp leading into a space overhung by tents of white fabric and surrounded by clusters of found objects, paintings, and drawings. The exhibition was a testament to Althoff's ability to create complex, multi-layered narratives that invite viewers into his unique world.
Althoff's work has been featured in numerous important institutional shows, including the Venice Biennale in 1993 and 2003. His exhibitions challenge and provoke, often presenting a mix of the accomplished and the cack-handed, the tender and the cruddy, in a deliberate attempt to unsettle the viewer's gaze. Despite—or perhaps because of—his acute ambivalence towards the art world, Althoff has gained notoriety and acclaim for his distinctive approach to art-making.
Throughout his career, Althoff has been the subject of significant institutional solo and group exhibitions, as well as numerous commercial gallery exhibitions. His work is represented by prestigious galleries such as Gladstone Gallery in New York, Galerie NEU in Berlin, and Michael Werner Gallery in London. Althoff's contributions to contemporary art continue to be celebrated for their depth, complexity, and refusal to adhere to conventional boundaries.
Kai Althoff Quotes and Sales
of Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
guarantee maximum confidentiality and extreme
professionalism.
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