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