Walter Dahn, a seminal figure in the neo-expressionist movement and a progenitor of “Bad Painting,” passed away on November 11 in Cologne at the age of 70. The announcement was made by Sprüth Magers, the gallery representing him. Dahn’s multifaceted artistic practice, spanning painting, sculpture, photography, screen prints, and music, left an indelible mark on contemporary art.

A Bold Rebel Against Art Norms

Born in 1954 in Tönisvorst, Germany, Dahn was deeply influenced by his studies at the Staatliche Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, where he was mentored by luminaries such as Joseph Beuys, Blinky Palermo, and Sigmar Polke. A defiant spirit, he stood with Beuys during the infamous barricade protest of the 1970s.

Dahn co-founded Mülheimer Freiheit in 1979 alongside like-minded artists, including Jiři Dokoupil and Hans Georg Adamski. This group catalyzed the Junge Wilde (“Young Wild Ones”), rejecting the austerity of Minimalism and Conceptualism in favor of vibrant, emotionally charged works inspired by punk, graffiti, and pop culture.

Art that Blends the Naïve and the Poetic

Dahn’s early works, like The Memento m. (1982) and Der Trinker (1983), exemplify his raw, rapid brushstrokes and comic-book-like imagery. As his career evolved, he experimented with bronze sculptures and “anti-silkscreens,” creating provocative one-off prints that resisted commercialization. His unique style often elicited strong emotional responses, a testament to his ability to bridge the visible and the invisible in art.

Beyond Visual Art

Dahn was also a musician, co-founding the techno-industrial band Die Partei in 1981. Later, he became a revered educator, teaching painting at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste Braunschweig from 1995 to 2017.

Dahn’s works are housed in prestigious institutions worldwide, including MoMA New York, the Museum Ludwig in Cologne, and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. His fearless exploration of art’s boundaries, both conceptual and aesthetic, continues to inspire.