Andreas Nottebohm

Andreas Nottebohm, born on October 13, 1944, in Eisenach, Germany, is a German-American artist and pioneer known for his groundbreaking work in metal painting. His career is defined by an innovative approach that combines polished metal surfaces, light, and color to create artworks that challenge traditional perceptions of depth and space. Nottebohm’s artistic journey began at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, where he studied under the surrealist painter Mac Zimmermann. He then deepened his knowledge of etching with Johnny Friedlaender in Paris and studied lithography in Salzburg, Austria. During this time, he began using metal as a medium and discovered the unique reflective and transformative properties of the material.

In 1978, Nottebohm held his first exhibition in the United States, where his work was highly praised by critics. This led him to settle in the San Francisco Bay Area, which remains his creative home to this day. A significant milestone in his career occurred in 1981 when NASA commissioned him to create official paintings for the first Space Shuttle mission of the Columbia. This collaboration established him as a visionary artist, seamlessly blending themes of science, technology, and the cosmos with his unique artistic techniques. Nottebohm is particularly renowned for using polished aluminum and other metals as his canvases. His process involves polishing, etching, and painting metal surfaces to create dynamic works that interact with light and change depending on the viewer’s perspective. His art evokes a sense of cosmic wonder and is often compared to the Op Art and visionary art movements.

Nottebohm’s works are featured in prestigious institutions worldwide, including the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the Kennedy Space Center, the Crocker Art Museum, the Nevada Museum of Art, and the Museu de Arte Moderna in Rio de Janeiro. Over the course of his career, he has presented more than 100 solo exhibitions across Europe and the United States. In 2011, the University of Arizona honored him with a major retrospective that highlighted his innovative contributions to contemporary art. In recent years, he has collaborated with musician Pete Sears on a decade-long project that combines his metal artworks with experimental music, expanding the sensory dimensions of his art.

Nottebohm’s ability to transform metal into dynamic, light-reactive artworks has redefined the possibilities of this medium. His works bridge the gap between art and science, inspiring viewers to explore the interplay of light, space, and imagination. With a career spanning decades, Andreas Nottebohm has established himself as a true visionary, leaving a lasting impact on the art world.

He has had over 150 one-man shows. His paintings have been shown in galleries and museums worldwide, including the Smithsonian Museum and the Crocker Museum in Sacramento, Ca. Over the years the value of his artwork in one-of-a-kind original format has steadily increased. Crocker Museum curator observed that Nottebohm “teases the eye and challenges the mind.”

Active galleries:  Laura Rathe Fine Art   Modernism

Museum Show – University of Arizona

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