Untitled

1961–1967

The Düsseldorf Art Academy

At twenty Polke entered the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, where in 1961–1967 he studied under Karl Otto Götz and Gerhard Hoehme and was deeply influenced by his teacher Joseph Beuys.

1963

Founds “Capitalist Realism”

In 1963 Polke, with Gerhard Richter and Konrad Fischer (who worked as an artist under the name Konrad Lueg), founded “Capitalist Realism” — an anti-style that appropriated the shorthand of advertising, mocking both the Socialist Realism his family had fled and the consumerist “doctrine” of the West.

11 – 26 May 1963

The “Demonstrative Exhibition” in a shop

From 11 to 26 May 1963 Polke showed work with Manfred Kuttner, Konrad Lueg and Gerhard Richter in the “Demonstrative Ausstellung”, a store-front exhibition in Düsseldorf. His first exhibition took place in 1963.

1964

Daughter born: Anna Polke

1964

The Young Germans award in Baden-Baden

In 1964 Polke, together with Klaus Geldmacher and Dieter Krieg, received the Young Germans award in Baden-Baden; the Galerie René Block in Berlin showed “Neodada Pop Decollage Kapitalistischer Realismus”.

1966

First one-man show, in West Berlin

In 1966 Polke had his first one-person show at the Galerie René Block in West Berlin.