Kiefer/Van Gogh: A unique reframing
Starting June 28, the Royal Academy of Arts will host the exhibition Kiefer/Van Gogh. It features works by both artists displayed side by side for the first time in the UK. Vincent van Gogh has had a lasting influence on Anselm Kiefer. Throughout his career, Kiefer has drawn inspiration from the Post-Impressionist pioneer in both thematic choices and technical approaches to his monumental paintings and sculptures, which blend history, mythology, literature, philosophy, and science. The exhibition features Van Gogh’s paintings and drawings from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, as well as Kiefer’s paintings, drawings, and sculptures, including some that are new and have never been exhibited before. Afisha.London has already visited the show and offers insights into the exhibition.
This article is also available in Russian here.
Kiefer’s first artistic inspiration was Van Gogh. He discovered Van Gogh’s work at 18 when he received a grant to travel along Van Gogh’s route, from the Netherlands through Belgium and Paris to Arles in southern France. During the journey, Kiefer created Van Gogh-inspired drawings and was profoundly impressed by the rational structure and compositional clarity of his landscapes. The exhibition highlights similarities in thought, process, and themes linking the two artists, while also emphasising distinct differences, offering viewers a new perspective on both bodies of work.
Among the exhibition’s highlights are Kiefer’s renowned large-scale landscapes, such as “Die Krähen” and “Nevermore”. These monumental works clearly demonstrate Kiefer’s admiration for Van Gogh’s compositional techniques, such as high horizon lines, contrasting foregrounds with deep perspective, and panoramic formats. They feature common motifs of crows and wheat fields, combined with a profound sensitivity to the texture of the painted surface.
Read also: Four exhibitions worth travelling to Paris for in summer 2025
“Nevermore”, Kiefer/Van Gogh, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2025. Photo: Afisha.London
The exhibition also features graphic works by both artists. Kiefer’s early pieces, created during his Van Gogh-inspired travels, are displayed alongside several of Van Gogh’s original drawings. One of these, “View of La Crau from Montmajour”, was last exhibited in London over 50 years ago. Notable for its large size, comparable to a painting, and for being an independent artwork rather than a preparatory sketch, it stands out in the collection.
“Walther von der Vogelweide: under der Linden an der Heide”. Kiefer/Van Gogh, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2025. Photo: Afisha.London
Other notable works include “Walther von der Vogelweide: under der Linden an der Heide”, a new, previously unseen piece by Kiefer, as well as a new sculpture created especially for the exhibition: a tall sunflower growing from a massive pile of books, scattering golden seeds onto lead pages. This work engages with Van Gogh’s “Piles of French Novels” and illustrates the significance of literature and poetry to both artists. Van Gogh was one of the most well-read artists of the 19th century, while Kiefer constantly incorporates literary imagery into his art.
By the end of the exhibition, a striking contrast becomes clear: Van Gogh’s smaller works are placed alongside Kiefer’s monumental pieces, made from straw, lead, ash, gold, earth, and metal. The exhibition concludes with Kiefer’s vast canvas “Starry Night”, a powerful and unforgettable piece that both interprets and honours Van Gogh’s iconic painting of the same name.
Kiefer/Van Gogh will be on display at the Royal Academy of Arts from 28 June to 26 October. Read more
Cover photo: Kiefer/Van Gogh, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2025. Photo: Afisha.London
Read also:
Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts
What to see in London this summer: top exhibitions of 2025
Charles Dickens Museum: a journey into the heart of Victorian London
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