Kiefer - Van Gogh

Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, 28 June – 26 October 2025

In 1890, Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) painted his last works. Seventy-two years later, Anselm Kiefer (1945–), then aged eighteen, received a travel grant to follow in Van Gogh's footsteps, from the Netherlands to Belgium, then to Paris and Arles. Van Gogh profoundly influenced the themes and techniques of Kiefer's monumental paintings and sculptures, which draw inspiration from history, mythology, literature, philosophy, and science.

Published on the occasion of Kiefer's eightieth birthday, this exhibition catalogue is the first to focus on Van Gogh's lasting influence on Kiefer and pays tribute to the power and luminous intensity of both artists' work. It features works by both artists, including new works by Kiefer that have never been exhibited before.