Rita Ackermann

The artist’s first major monograph, exploring every aspect of her career. After moving to New York from her native Hungary in the mid-1990s, Rita Ackermann received widespread attention for her canvases populated by waifish girls inspired by the cult German film We Children from the Zoo Station. Her work forged a new visual language: paintings, drawings, and collages which range from virtuoso expressionism to a playful drawing style. Ackermann explores seduction and violence in subjects as varied as American pop culture, the Baader-Meinhof gang, classical literature, film, and philosophy. Bonnie Clearwater examines the artist’s career and the changes in her practice that occurred through her “integration” into Western culture. Harmony Korine contributes an interview that focuses on Ackermann’s process and John Kelsey explores the artist’s fascination with popular culture. Josh Smith contributes a foreword in the form of a personal letter. Images of her work and studio are joined by excerpts from sketchbooks and diaries and a visual essay by the artist.

Bonnie Clearwater is the director and chief curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami. Harmony Korine is a screenwriter, director, and author. John Kelsey is a New York City-based art writer. Felix Ensslin is a Berlin-based curator and writer. Josh Smith is an artist