Fusing European expressionism with American popular culture, André Butzer began carving his own path through the artistic and political extremes of the 20th century.
Influenced by a wide array of figures including Friedrich Hölderlin, Edvard Munch, Walt Disney, and Henry Ford, Butzer created a fictional universe centered around the space colony NASAHEIM. Within this universe, the character "Peace-Siemens," a friendly head-shaped figure, combines utopian ideals with the economic thinking of emerging mass consumerism, while the "Wanderer" offers romantic projections and the "Shame-Human" reflects the shadows of political history. This universe adds thematic depth to the canvases, with these characters acting as protagonists of paint, surrounding the N-House—home to all colors—in a style the artist has termed "Science-Fiction Expressionism."
As the new millennium progressed, colors in Butzer’s work began to take on a life of their own, evolving into abstract paintings characterized by lines freely moving across the canvas. From 2010 onwards, Butzer pushed the boundaries of painting, exploring the fundamental dimensions and possibilities of painterly expression through his seemingly black N-Paintings. In 2018, Butzer relocated to California, where he painted outdoors year-round. The resulting works are brimming with vibrant color, with lines and figures that, having been refined by their experiences at the edge of abstraction, reveal new attitudes.
This is the first book to comprehensively showcase Butzer's work from 1999 to 2021. The progression of his works unfolds like a musical composition, developing, returning, and starting anew. The book includes contemporary quotes from the artist that illuminate his unique stance and background, along with photos from his archives. The introductory essay by Hans Werner Holzwarth explores the different phases of Butzer’s work and places the artist’s ideas within the broader discourse of abstraction and figuration after the dissolution of both genres. Most importantly, the book’s pristine, large-format illustrations fully demonstrate the finesse and mastery as a colorist that have made Butzer one of the most internationally recognized painters of his generation.