14/07/2026
RALPH FLECK
Ralph, We Miss You!
In Memory of the Painter Ralph Fleck (1951–2026)
It was with profound sadness that we learned of the sudden passing of Ralph Fleck.
Born in Freiburg in 1951, Ralph Fleck established a singular position within contemporary German painting from the 1980s on. Between 2003 and 2015, he passed on his artistic vision to his students as a Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Nuremberg. Following his studies at the State Academy of Fine Arts Karlsruhe (1973–78), he created his first large-scale works in the richly impastoed oil technique that would become his unmistakable hallmark.
Ralph Fleck always started with direct observation: the city, architecture, a field in bloom, or the shell of an oyster. His concern was to approach the visible world through paint itself—through its materiality, texture, and structure. Out of the dense application of colour emerge almost portrait-like depictions of cake, tomatoes, cheese, or raw meat. Urban life, however, remained one of his most compelling subjects. His views of cities like Rome, New York, Paris, or London are all immersed in a light unique to each location.
His body of work has been presented in museum exhibitions and is represented in outstanding public and private collections around the world. His distinctive paintings, together with the galleries, museums, and collectors will ensure that his artistic legacy endures.
We had the privilege of exhibiting Ralph Fleck’s work in our gallery. So, we look back with great appreciation on the conversations that preceded every exhibition, as well as on our visits to his studio in Freiburg. Over the years, what began as a close professional relationship between artist and gallery grew into a friendship with Ralph Fleck and his partner, Ilse Klär. This personal bond allowed us to know not only the remarkable artist, but also the extraordinary person behind the work. The news of Ralph’s passing has filled us with deep sorrow. Our thoughts are with Ilse Klär and Ralph Fleck’s family and loved ones. We extend to them our heartfelt sympathy and deepest condolences.