Wolfgang Tillmans
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Wolfgang Tillmans

Germany • 1968

I want to bring stuff from the visual world to the intellectual world by connecting it in another way.

Biography

Wolfgang Tillmans is a German photographer and visual artist born in 1968 in Remscheid, Germany. From 1990 to 1992 Wolfgang Tillmans studied at Bournemouth & Poole College of Art and Design in the UK. He lives and works between London and Berlin. 

Like Nan Goldin or Larry Clark, Wolfgang Tillmans' universe often shocks good taste and common sense. His works seem to be populated by young party-goers, drug addicts, kissing full-mouthed, urinating on a chair, or looking at the device with a mocking eye. There are also people who masturbate, couples who wash themselves or even snapshots of the artist's friends, sometimes naked and in the middle of the forest. In Germany, the United Kingdom or the Netherlands, the photographer collaborates with independent magazines mixing art, graphics and fashion: The Face, iD, Butt… His work is the fruit of all disillusion and radicalism. 1990s. 

In 2000, Tillmans made a series of photographs for the British newspaper The Big Issue sold by homeless people. He also poses his friends Kate Moss or Michael Stipe, leader of REM and accepts orders from the most conservative fashion magazines. In 2002, Tillmans signed an exhibition at the Palais de Tokyo. In 2008, the Hamburger Bahnhof in Berlin devoted its first major retrospective to him in Germany. Tillmans is the first artist to win the Turner Prize, an annual award given to a contemporary artist under the age of 50.

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What is Wolfgang Tillmans known for?

Wolfgang Tillmans is known for his innovative photography that blurs the boundaries between genres, exploring abstraction, portraiture, and everyday life. He is celebrated for his experimental approach and impactful installations in contemporary art.

How much is Wolfgang Tillmans art worth?

Wolfgang Tillmans' artworks typically sell for between $10,000 and $600,000 at auction, depending on size, edition, and rarity. His record price at auction is over $800,000 for a single photograph.

How does Wolfgang Tillmans hang his photos?

Wolfgang Tillmans often hangs his photos unframed, directly on the wall using tape, pins, or clips. This approach emphasizes the materiality of the print and creates an intimate, informal presentation.

What camera did Wolfgang Tillmans use?
Wolfgang Tillmans is known for using a variety of cameras, including the Canon EOS series and the Contax G2. He often experiments with both analog and digital formats to achieve his distinctive photographic style.