Ernst Wilhelm Nay

(German, 1902–1968)

Ernst Wilhelm Nay was a German painter known for his association with the Art Informel movement and post-World War II artists such as Karel Appel, Jean Dubuffet, and Alberto Burri. Despite working exclusively in abstraction, Nay’s distinctive Expressionistic use of color and textile-like patterning show the influence of representational painters like Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and the Henri Matisse. Born on June 1, 1911 in Berlin, Germany, he went on to study under Karl Hofer at the Berlin Art Academy. Nay was on track for a successful career in Germany, until the Nazi regime labeled his work as Degenerate, thereby making it illegal for him to show or even produce artworks. After being conscripted into the Nazi army, the artist served in France where he was able to secretly paint in a friend’s sculpture studio. It was not until a decade after the war with his participation in the 1956 Venice Biennale that Nay made a breakthrough into the international art scene. Today, his works are in the collections of the Kunstmuseum Basel, the Tate Modern in London, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, and the Nationalgalerie in Berlin, among others. he died on April 8, 1968 in Cologne, Germany.

Ernst Wilhelm Nay News

Art Fairs

See What Treasures Await at TEFAF 2017 in Maastricht

by Eileen Kinsella
See What Treasures Await at TEFAF 2017 in Maastricht
Art & Exhibitions

Gallery Hopping: Ernst Wilhelm Nay at Aurel Scheibler, Berlin

by Hili Perlson
Gallery Hopping: Ernst Wilhelm Nay at Aurel Scheibler, Berlin
Art & Exhibitions

Must-See Art Guide: Berlin

by Tatiana Berg
Must-See Art Guide: Berlin

Ernst Wilhelm Nay Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

Ernst Wilhelm Nay (2,589 results)
Pastorale, 1954

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Pastorale, 1954

Sale Date: November 24, 2011

Auction Closed

Dunkle Zirkel, 1960

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Dunkle Zirkel, 1960

Sale Date: November 24, 2011

Auction Closed

Weizengelb, 1962

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Weizengelb, 1962

Sale Date: November 24, 2011

Auction Closed

Der Hirte III, 1948

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Der Hirte III, 1948

Sale Date: November 24, 2011

Auction Closed

Dominant Blau (from Europäische Graphik II), 1964

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Dominant Blau (from Europäische Graphik II), 1964

Sale Date: November 22, 2011

Auction Closed

Ohne Titel, 1965

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Ohne Titel, 1965

Sale Date: November 26, 2011

Auction Closed

Kreiskomposition, 1961

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Kreiskomposition, 1961

Sale Date: November 26, 2011

Auction Closed

Augen, 1964

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Augen, 1964

Sale Date: November 26, 2011

Auction Closed

Ohne Titel (+ another; 2 works), 1968

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Ohne Titel (+ another; 2 works), 1968

Sale Date: November 10, 2011

Auction Closed

Farblitho (NOR), 1962

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Farblitho (NOR), 1962

Sale Date: November 5, 2011

Auction Closed

Rot aus Blau, pl.4 (from Europäische Graphik , 1964

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Rot aus Blau, pl.4 (from Europäische Graphik , 1964

Sale Date: October 29, 2011

Auction Closed

Komposition, 1964

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Komposition, 1964

Sale Date: October 29, 2011

Auction Closed

Oberon, 1949

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Oberon, 1949

Sale Date: October 29, 2011

Auction Closed

Komposition, 1958

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Komposition, 1958

Sale Date: October 29, 2011

Auction Closed

Die Wüste, pl.1 (from Über den Menschen), 1965

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Die Wüste, pl.1 (from Über den Menschen), 1965

Sale Date: October 29, 2011

Auction Closed

Eruption, pl.3 (from Über den Menschen), 1965

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Eruption, pl.3 (from Über den Menschen), 1965

Sale Date: October 29, 2011

Auction Closed

Über den Menschen (portfolio of 6 w/colophon), 1965

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Über den Menschen (portfolio of 6 w/colophon), 1965

Sale Date: October 29, 2011

Auction Closed

Rot aus Blau, pl.4 (from Europäische Graphik , 1964

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Rot aus Blau, pl.4 (from Europäische Graphik , 1964

Sale Date: October 29, 2011

Auction Closed

Albaran (study for painting), 1951

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Albaran (study for painting), 1951

Sale Date: October 29, 2011

Auction Closed

Siebdruck 1966-2 (NOR) (+ C. G. Heise zum..., 1966

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Siebdruck 1966-2 (NOR) (+ C. G. Heise zum..., 1966

Sale Date: October 29, 2011

Auction Closed

Dominant Blau, 1964

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Dominant Blau, 1964

Sale Date: October 29, 2011

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1966

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Untitled, 1966

Sale Date: October 29, 2011

Auction Closed

Siebdruck - 2 (NOR), 1966

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Siebdruck - 2 (NOR), 1966

Sale Date: October 29, 2011

Auction Closed

Untitled, 1968

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Untitled, 1968

Sale Date: September 15, 2011

Auction Closed

English (US)

©2024 Artnet Worldwide Corporation. All rights reserved.