On the occasion of Berlin Art Week 2026, Konrad Fischer Galerie is pleased to present its 20th solo exhibition with Alan Charlton as part of Gallery Night on Thursday, 10 September, from 6–10 pm.
Alan Charlton’s (*1948, Sheffield, UK) artistic practice emerged at a time when Minimalism, Post-Minimalism, and Hard-Edge Abstraction were redefining the possibilities of painting and sculpture. Since the mid-1970s, he has pursued an exceptionally consistent artistic language, working exclusively with the colour grey. His paintings follow a precise system of measurement: height, width, and depth are determined as multiples of 4.5 cm. Through this rigorous system of proportion, Charlton explores the relationship between the physical painting and the architecture that surrounds it.
Charlton’s decision to work with grey originates in his search for a functional colour associated with industrial manufacturing. Its limited associative potential allows the works to resist emotional or symbolic interpretation, instead directing attention towards the immediate encounter between the work and the viewer. Within this rigorously structured practice, Charlton continuously develops new forms. His repetitive working process gives rise to subtle variations and nuances, making repetition itself an important source of inspiration. The new works presented in this exhibition focus on circular compositions that differ in diameter, shade of grey, and number of individual elements.
Alan Charlton was born in Sheffield in 1948 and studied at Sheffield School of Art, Camberwell School of Art, and the Royal Academy Schools in London. Major solo exhibitions have been held at institutions including Museum Kurhaus Kleve (2008) and Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam (2001). His first solo exhibition at Konrad Fischer Galerie in Düsseldorf took place in 1972. That same year, Whitechapel Gallery in London presented his first institutional solo exhibition – a formative moment that introduced his work to a broader audience.
Charlton has participated in numerous major group exhibitions, most notably documenta 7 in Kassel (1982). His work has also been exhibited at institutions including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven.
His works are held in numerous public collections, including the ARCO Foundation Collection, Madrid; Espace de l’Art Concret, Mouans-Sartoux; FNAC + CNAP Fonds national d’art contemporain, Paris; the Hall Art Foundation at Schloss Derneburg Museum; MuHKA – Museum of Contemporary Art, Antwerp; Museu Berardo, Lisbon; Trevi Flash Art Museum, Italy; and ZKM | Karlsruhe.
Alan Charlton lives and works in England.
