On the occasion of the 85th birthday of Gerhard Richter (born 1932), Gerhard Richter: New Paintings presents 26 never-before-exhibited abstract pictures, all produced by the artist in the last year.

One of the most important painters of our time, Richter shows no signs of slowing down: the new paintings, characterized by vibrant colors and layered compositions, reveal an artist still at the height of his powers. Building up multiple layers of oil paint as he works, Richter mobilizes paintbrush, squeegee, scraper and palette knife in his signature process, his wealth of experience meeting his careful deployment of chance in highly detailed and extremely complex pictures. Gerhard Richter: New Paintings is published to accompany an exhibition of the paintings at a particularly meaningful venue--the Museum Ludwig in Cologne, the city where Richter lives and works.