Isa Genzken was born in 1948 in Bad Oldesloe, Germany. She studied painting at Hamburg’s fine arts school, the Hochschule für bildende Künste, from 1969 to 1971, and then at the Hochschule für bildende Künste in Berlin and at Düsseldorf’s art academy under Gerhard Richter. In addition, from 1973 to 1975 she devoted herself to the study of philosophy and art history at the University of Cologne. In 1977 Genzken began to teach in Düsseldorf. She taught as a guest professor at her Berlin alma mater in 1990, and at the Städelschule in Frankfurt am Main in 1991. She had married Richter in 1982, but they separated in 1993. In 1980 she was awarded Berlin’s Art Prize. Additional prizes and awards followed, as well as numerous solo and group shows around the world. She has participated in documenta three times. In 2007 Genzken represented Germany at the 52nd Venice Biennale. Her first retrospective was presented in 2009 at the Whitechapel Gallery in London and the Museum Ludwig in Cologne. She works in the most varied mediums: sculpture, installations, photography, film, painting and works on paper. The artist lives and works in Berlin.
