PAUL PFARR
Watercolours - early works from the 1960ies

Exhibition dates: June 16 - July 25, 2026
Opening: Saturday, June 13, 2026, starting 5 p.m.

Paul Pfarr (1938–2020) is one of the leading German artists who have impressively expanded the boundaries between sculpture, installation, and conceptual art.

He received his training at the art academies in Stuttgart and Berlin, was a master student of Bernhard Heiliger, served for a time as a visiting professor at the Berlin University of the Arts, and was a long-standing member of the German Artists’ Association.

Since the 1970s, he developed a distinctive artistic language centered on working with found objects. He was less interested in the objects themselves than in their history, as well as the traces and layers of meaning inscribed within them. Time itself became a central theme in his work: as a trace, a memory, and a process of change.

By reducing, supplementing, or reshaping the found materials, he opened up new spaces of meaning. His works oscillate between documentary precision and poetic condensation, inviting viewers to observe everyday objects with fresh attention. In this approach, Pfarr engages with artistic positions ranging from Marcel Duchamp to Joseph Beuys, without adopting their specific methods.

The current exhibition presents selected early watercolors, including works from the series “Hommage à Paul Klee” (1960–1966), which, in their poetic lightness, sensitive use of color, and reduction to the essential, reveal an affinity with Paul Klee’s visual language while simultaneously foreshadowing Pfarr’s distinctive artistic style. These early watercolors reveal, right at the outset of his artistic career, a lifelong engagement with influential artistic figures that would accompany his work well into his later years.

We cordially invite you to the opening reception on June 13, 2026, starting at 5:00 p.m.: Join us in experiencing a collection of fascinating watercolors by Berlin artist Paul Pfarr, on display in an exhibition for the first time, and look forward to the opportunity to meet the artist’s companions and gain fascinating insights into his life.

Exhibition venue:
Kunstauktionshaus Schloss Ahlden | Representative Office
Fasanenstrasse 69, 10719 Berlin

Opening hours:
Wednesday - Friday: 14:00 -19:00 CET
Saturday: 10:00 - 13:00 & 14:00 -19:00 CET