"o.T." by Peter Robert Keil 1994
Peter Robert Keil grew up in the Berlin working-class district of Wedding and soon discovered his interest in painting. He was particularly influenced by expressionist works such as that of Pablo Picasso. From around 1954, Keil became a student of Otto Nagel, a well-known East Berlin painter. During this time, Keil learned his first manual skills and painting techniques. In 1956, Keil began learning the profession of an ornamental metalworker, then studied at the Berlin University of the Arts. During his studies, Keil met numerous great artists, including Georg Baselitz, Markus Lüpertz, Joachim Schmettau and Eugen Schönebeck. In Mallorca he spent time with Joan Miró in his studio several times. Keil had studios in Paris, London, Berlin and the USA. He now lives and works mainly in Bavaria, Berlin and Los Angeles.
Keil's early work is predominantly based on German Expressionism. Thematically, he primarily deals with classic scenes from everyday life in Berlin and deals with marginalized social figures. From his stays in Paris and mainly influenced by the Parisian nightlife, style and motifs change. Keil is increasingly moving away from realistic images and developing an impulsive, dynamic style. This style shaped his years in London. When Keil returned to Berlin from London in the early 1980s, he became part of the “Neue Wilde” movement. From now on his unmistakable style developed: fast, accentuated brush strokes, intense colors and the solution of form and perspective. The desire for the liberation of social constraints and given norms is revealed through Keil's works.
"Portrait in yellow" dates back to 1994 and carries all of the elements of Keil's style. The work is supported by a 74 x 100 cm canvas. The central element is the oversized head, which mainly on the right half in a strong yellow takes up most of the canvas. On the left half of the work there are six red colored circles which, except for one, are limited by a black border. The work is signed and dated lower left on the front.
