Günther Förg (1952–2013) was a German artist known for moving with ease between painting, photography, sculpture and large wall paintings. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich in the 1970s and later taught in Karlsruhe and Munich.
Förg was drawn to the look and ideas of European modernism, from the Bauhaus to Russian Constructivism. Rather than quoting it directly, he tested its limits through materials and surface. In the 1980s he made his well known lead paintings, laying thin acrylic colour over sheets of lead mounted on wood. Later came aluminium works, bold grids and brisk gestures that balanced order with a looser hand.
His photography focused on modernist architecture, including buildings by Le Corbusier and key Bauhaus sites. The images often show weathered facades and worn corners, suggesting both admiration and critique.
Förg exhibited widely across Europe and the United States, and his work is held by major museums. He is remembered for a clear, material approach that keeps modernist ideals in play while allowing for imperfection and touch.