The distinctive oeuvre of the late Jochen Klein (1967-1997) marked a new attitude toward figurative painting in Europe in the nineties. After studying painting in Munich, Klein joined the New York artists' collective Group Material, and together they initially devoted themselves to conceptual projects. After moving to London, however, Klein returned to painting, and until his death at thirty he worked on paintings that combine the experience he gained during his conceptual phase with virtuoso colorism. His most well-known paintings are idyllic landscape scenes. Photo wallpaper, ads in illustrated magazines, or erotic films, in which he recognized a collective consciousness that reflected individual desires, served as his sources of inspiration.

A major publication on Jochen Klein’s work was published spring 2011 by Hatje Cantz with Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich. Essays by Russell Ferguson and Bernhart Schwenk. Please find a download of the book here.

Jochen Klein. Edited by Pinakothek der Moderne, Wolfgang Tillmans, Dr. Bernhart Schwenk. Designed by Wolfgang Tillmans, Federico Martelli. Texts by Dr. Bernhart Schwenk, Russell Ferguson, Thomas Eggerer, Helmut Draxler, Yilmaz Dziewior, Doug Ashford, Ronald Jones, Pia Lanzinger, Anton Sergl, Simon Watney, Matthew Higgs, Michael Krebber, Jutta Krebber, Manfred Hermes, Nick Mauss, Jochen Klein. Hatje Cantz, Ostfildern, 2011

German and English. Hardcover, 22.7 × 28.3 cm (8.9 × 11.1 in.), 272 pages.
ISBN:978-3-7757-2808-9 (out of print)
Download

Jochen Klein

1967
Born in Giengen an der Brenz

1997
Died in Munich

1979-1994
Lived and worked in Munich

1993-1996
Collaboration with Thomas Eggerer

1994-1996
Lived and worked in New York

1994-1996
Member of Group Material

1996-1997
Lived and worked in London


Education

1989-1994
Kunstakademie München

1994-1995
Vermont College of Art, Montpelier, Vermont

Solo Exhibitions

2023
After The Light, MACRO - Museum of Contemporary Art, Rome

2022
Theses On Hope #4: Jochen Klein in memoriam 1967 – 28 July 1997, Between Bridges, Berlin

2017
Galerie Buchholz, New York

2008
Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich

2004
Galerie Daniel Buchholz (with Peter Doig), Cologne

2003
Maureen Paley Interim Art, London

2002
Partnerschaften. Unterbrochene Karrieren (with Wolfgang Tillmans), Neue Gesellschaft für Bildende Kunst, Berlin (catalogue)

1998
Cubitt, London (catalogue)
Kunstraum München, Munich (catalogue) Feature Inc., New York

1997
Galerie Daniel Buchholz, Cologne


Group Exhibitions

2025
Thomas Eggerer and Jochen Klein: IKEA, Ciccio, New York

2022
Mix & Match. Rediscovering the Collection, Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich

2019
United by AIDS - An Exhibition About Loss, Remembrance, Activism and Art in Response to HIV/AIDS, Migros, Zurich
Casper White/Jochen Klein, Kingsgate Project Space, London
Feelings. Kunst und Emotion, Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich

2018
In Part. Writings by Julie Ault, Galerie Buchholz, New York

2017
The Collective, Workplace Gateshead
Paint On, Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich

2015
Geh und spiel mit dem Riesen, Museum Villa Stuck, Munich

2014
Abandon the Parents, SMK Statens Museum for Kunst / National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen
Unknown Masterpieces, Wonderloch Kellerland, Berlin

2013
Pan und Plan. Monika Baer / Jochen Klein, Galerie der Stadt Schwaz

2012
The Happy Fainting of Painting - Zwischen Bild und Buch: Materialsammlung Malerei heute, Zwinger Galerie, Berlin

2011
Quodlibet III - Alphabets and Instruments, Galerie Buchholz, Berlin
SHOW 3: What a serious horror writing a play, Kienzle Art Foundation, Berlin

2010
The Ground Around - Idylls, Earthworks & Thunderbolts, Vilma Gold, London

2009
Quodlibet II, Galerie Daniel Buchholz, Cologne

2006
Gail Wigley Window Box, The New Art Gallery Walsall, Walsall
Galerie Daniel Buchholz at Metro P., Metro Pictures Gallery, New York
Optik Schröder, Kunstverein Braunschweig

2005
Growing Up Absurd, Herbert Read Gallery, Canterbury

2004
The Undiscovered Country, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles (catalogue)
COLLAGE, Bloomberg Space, London
Io mi ricordo, Galleria SALES, Rome

2003
Some Things We Like..., Asprey Jacques, London

2000
Galerie Daniel Buchholz, Cologne
Galerie Meyer Kainer (with Wolfgang Tillmans), Vienna

1999
Mr. Fascination, Thread Waxing Space, New York
Malerei, INIT Kunst-Halle, Berlin
Kraftwerk Berlin, Aarhus Kunstmuseum, Aarhus (catalogue)
Painting Lab, Entwistle, London
Horseriding, Painting and Lovemaking, Deutsch Britische Freundschaft, London

1998
Fast Forward, Kunstverein in Hamburg
From the Corner of the Eye, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (catalogue)
Portrait - Human Figure, Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Zurich
Group exhibition, Galerie Daniel Buchholz, Cologne

1997
Day without Art, Feature Inc., New York Robert Prime, London
Time Out (curated by Stephan Schmidt-Wulffen), Kunsthalle Nürnberg (catalogue)
Multiple Choice, Cubitt, London

1996
Glockengeschrei nach Deutz, Galerie Daniel Buchholz, Cologne (catalogue)
Three Rivers Arts Festival, as part of Group Material (curated by Mary Jane Jacobs), Pittsburgh
IKEA (with Thomas Eggerer), Printed Matter, New York

1995
Market, as part of Group Material (curated by Helmut Draxler), Kunstverein München

1994
Kunstraum Wien, with Thomas Eggerer (curated by Hedwig Saxenhuber and Astrid Wege), Vienna
Oh Boy it's a Girl - Feminismen in der Kunst, Kunstverein München
Die Utopie des Designs, organized and conceived as part of a group, Kunstverein München