Elvira Bach

B. 1951, Neuenhain, Germany Elvira Bach is a German painter whose bold, frontal depictions of women made her one of the most recognisable figures to emerge from the Neue Wilde movement in 1980s Berlin. She trained at the Hochschule der Kunste in Berlin and first drew wide attention when her work was included in documenta 7 in 1982. Her paintings are characterised by strong outlines, saturated colour and a recurring female protagonist, frequently read as self-portrait, rendered with jewellery, flowers, fruit and children. The figure is presented with directness and self-possession rather than as an object of the viewer's gaze. Alongside painting, Bach works in ceramics, sculpture and printmaking. She lives and works in Berlin, and her work is represented in numerous museum and private collections.