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

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Art & Exhibitions

Gallery Hopping: Ernst Wilhelm Nay at Aurel Scheibler, Berlin

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

Must-See Art Guide: Berlin

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Ernst Wilhelm Nay Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

Ernst Wilhelm Nay (2,589 results)
Figurale - Theta, 1950

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Figurale - Theta, 1950

Sale Date: December 1, 2006

Auction Closed

Figurale - Omikron, 1951

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Figurale - Omikron, 1951

Sale Date: December 1, 2006

Auction Closed

Femme bleue, 1947

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Femme bleue, 1947

Sale Date: December 1, 2006

Auction Closed

Sitzende Frau in der Landschaft, 1946

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Sitzende Frau in der Landschaft, 1946

Sale Date: December 1, 2006

Auction Closed

Farblitho, 1966

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Farblitho, 1966

Sale Date: November 16, 2006

Auction Closed

Das Licht, 1965

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Das Licht, 1965

Sale Date: November 16, 2006

Auction Closed

Spiele des Menschen, pl. 5 (from E.W. Nay,..., 1965

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Spiele des Menschen, pl. 5 (from E.W. Nay,..., 1965

Sale Date: November 16, 2006

Auction Closed

Ohne Titel, 1948

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Ohne Titel, 1948

Sale Date: November 11, 2006

Auction Closed

Plakat Galerie Der Spiegel (exhibition poster), 1955

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Plakat Galerie Der Spiegel (exhibition poster), 1955

Sale Date: October 28, 2006

Auction Closed

Farblitho 1962 (NOR), 1962

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Farblitho 1962 (NOR), 1962

Sale Date: October 28, 2006

Auction Closed

Farblitho 1961 (NOR), 1961

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Farblitho 1961 (NOR), 1961

Sale Date: October 28, 2006

Auction Closed

Farblitho 1959 (NOR), 1959

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Farblitho 1959 (NOR), 1959

Sale Date: October 28, 2006

Auction Closed

Farblitho 1958 (NOR), 1958

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Farblitho 1958 (NOR), 1958

Sale Date: October 28, 2006

Auction Closed

Persiches Gedicht (Farblitho 1949-4), 1949

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Persiches Gedicht (Farblitho 1949-4), 1949

Sale Date: October 28, 2006

Auction Closed

Oberon, 1949

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Oberon, 1949

Sale Date: October 28, 2006

Auction Closed

Oberon (Farblitho 1949-1), 1949

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Oberon (Farblitho 1949-1), 1949

Sale Date: October 28, 2006

Auction Closed

Farbaquatinta 1965-7, 1965

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Farbaquatinta 1965-7, 1965

Sale Date: October 28, 2006

Auction Closed

Spiele der Menschen, pl. 5 (from Sechs..., 1965

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Spiele der Menschen, pl. 5 (from Sechs..., 1965

Sale Date: October 28, 2006

Auction Closed

Die Pflanze, pl. 2 (from Sechs Aquatinten -..., 1965

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Die Pflanze, pl. 2 (from Sechs Aquatinten -..., 1965

Sale Date: October 28, 2006

Auction Closed

Die Pflanze, pl. 2 (from Sechs Aquatinten -..., 1965

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Die Pflanze, pl. 2 (from Sechs Aquatinten -..., 1965

Sale Date: October 28, 2006

Auction Closed

Sechs Aquatinten - Über den Menschen..., 1965

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Sechs Aquatinten - Über den Menschen..., 1965

Sale Date: October 28, 2006

Auction Closed

Farbholzschnitt 1953, 1953

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Farbholzschnitt 1953, 1953

Sale Date: October 28, 2006

Auction Closed

Fischer am Strand, 1936

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Fischer am Strand, 1936

Sale Date: October 28, 2006

Auction Closed

Spiele des Menschen, pl. 5 (from Über den..., 1965

Ernst Wilhelm Nay

Spiele des Menschen, pl. 5 (from Über den..., 1965

Sale Date: October 28, 2006

Auction Closed

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