Biography

Bernard Schultze was a prominent German abstract painter born on May 31, 1915, in Schneidemühl, now Piła, Poland, and he passed away on April 14, 2005, in Cologne, Germany. Schultze was a key figure in post-war German art and co-founded the Quadriga group, which was instrumental in the development of gestural abstraction in Germany. His work is characterized by vibrant, fluorescent colors and dynamic forms that often suggest fantastical landscapes and figures, blending abstraction with elements of representation. Schultze's early works were unfortunately destroyed during a 1945 air raid on Berlin, but he continued to create influential pieces that are now part of major collections worldwide, including the Museum Ludwig in Cologne, the Tate Museum in London, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. His marriage to fellow painter Ursula Bluhm in 1955 marked a personal and artistic partnership that further enriched his creative journey. Collectors and institutions value Schultze's work for its innovative approach to color and form, as well as its contribution to the narrative of abstract art in the 20th century.