Georg Baselitz, born Hans-Georg Kern in 1938 in Deutschbaselitz, Germany, is a leading Neo-Expressionist painter, sculptor, and printmaker. After studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in East Berlin, Baselitz developed a provocative figurative style, characterized by expressive gestures and intense colors. In the 1960s, he sparked controversy with his paintings of German heroes depicted in a deliberately grotesque manner, questioning post-war national identity. From 1969 onward, Baselitz introduced his signature motif: upside-down figures. This inversion became his visual trademark, challenging conventions of representation and drawing attention to the materiality of painting. Over the decades, Baselitz has explored numerous themes, from landscapes to portraits and self-portraits. His work as a sculptor, often in raw wood, extends his investigations into figuration and the deconstruction of forms. Georg Baselitz is considered one of the most influential German artists of his generation. His works are included in the collections of the world's leading museums, such as MoMA in New York and Tate Modern in London. He lives and works between Germany, Austria, and Italy.