Sigmar Polke

Born on February 13.

Moves with his family from East Germany to Düsseldorf, in West Germany.

Attends the Staatliche Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, graduating in 1967.

Founds the Capitalist Realism group with Gerhard Richter and Konrad Lueg (who later goes by the name Konrad Fischer). Along with Manfred Kuttner, the group’s members show work in an exhibition titled Demonstrative Ausstellung, installed in a storefront on Kaiserstrasse in Düsseldorf.

Has his first solo show, at Galerie René Block in Berlin. 1970s Creates work that explores the relationship between photography and painting and questions the objectivity of the camera lens.

Travels to Pakistan and Afghanistan, where he compiles a mass of photographic material that he will use in later works. Exhibits, along with Achim Duchow, at the Städtisches Kunstmuseum Bonn.

Receives the prize for painting at the XIII Bienal de São Paulo.