75 years of Christoph Wetzel: masterpieces of humanity in Meißen!

75 years of Christoph Wetzel: masterpieces of humanity in Meißen!

Christoph Wetzel, a name that has a special ring in the world of art and especially in Dresden. The 75-year-old artist is famous not only for his impressive portraits, but also for his important works that address faith and human destiny. Growing up in a parish household in Berlin, Wetzel found his passion for painting at an early age. But the path to art was not without obstacles: his parents discouraged him from studying art. Nevertheless, Wetzel did not allow himself to be discouraged and in his 20s applied to the University of Fine Arts in Dresden, where he was ultimately accepted. However, he later described his time there as sobering because he wanted practical instructions from his professors, which he was denied. Initial disappointment led him to discover the old Old Masters Picture Gallery as his true academy, where he could learn a lot about the masterpieces of the past.

At wetzel.de he describes himself as a “people painter” whose art revolves largely around the depiction of people and their individual fates. His works are particularly impressive, often requiring years of work, while others can be created within a day. A notable example is his portrait of the Syrian boy Alan Kurdi, which sensitively addresses the tragedies of our time. Wetzel has already painted almost a thousand portraits and brings his deep empathy and psychological understanding to the subjects portrayed. His paintings are often in dialogue with great models of his art, which helps him develop a deeper understanding of the human condition.

A life for art

After studying in Dresden between 1967 and 1973, where he acquired a diploma as a mural and panel painter, Wetzel completed training as a restorer at the State Art Collections in Dresden. He has been working as a freelancer since 1977 and taught for several years at the drawing school of the Meissen Porcelain Manufactory. Since 2014 he has moved his center of life to Berlin. Wetzel gained particular attention through the redesign of the dome of the Dresden Frauenkirche, which he completed between 2004 and 2005, and through the reconstruction of a war-damaged ceiling painting for the Marianum Oratory in Wroclaw between 2012 and 2014.

As part of his 75th birthday, a retrospective will be on view in the Albrechtsburg Meißen, which includes over 60 paintings, 25 drawings and numerous sculptures under the title “Human Passion”. Wetzel made the selection for this exhibition together with his friend and curator Uwe Michel. For Wetzel, painting is not only a craft, but also a way to deal with issues such as death and guilt and to draw strength from his Christian faith. A very personal work is the portrait of his sleeping father, which was created under deeply emotional circumstances - an expression of how closely art and life are often intertwined.

A look into the future

Christoph Wetzel's complex and emotional work will continue to leave its mark. His art is not only a reflection of human experience, but also a profound examination of questions of faith and existence. At a time when the world is confronted with challenges, Wetzel remains an important representative of people painting, who tries with every brush stroke to capture the incomprehensible and to bring the stories of the people behind his pictures to life. Further information about his work and the upcoming exhibition can be found on mdr.de and on his personal site.