Günther Uecker (1930–2025)

It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to Günther Uecker—one of the defining artists of our time, a humanist thinker, engaged mentor, and namesake of our institute. Günther Uecker supported us with his openness, his lively spirit, and his curiosity. For many of the recipients of our scholarship, he was not merely a subject of aesthetic study, but also an interlocutor, someone who took an interest in their work, asking questions and encouraging them to go further in their own work. A simple visit to his studio in the winter of 2023—alongside alumni of our institute and guests—became for all of us a moving experience. Günther Uecker’s attitude was characterized by his sense of dedication, and by his earnest, unshakeable belief that the artist bears a responsibility towards society. We take this attitude as our guide, and it characterizes the work of our institute to this day. We are grateful for the trust that Günther Uecker placed in us—and for the legacy that lives on in his work, in the thoughts he shared, and in the inspiration his work gives to so many of us. Our thoughts are with his family and all those who were close to him.