Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is treated as still under copyright. Bernd Luz was born in 1966 and has no recorded death date; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death. The image is shown here for classroom reference; rights remain with the rights holder.
In context
Dakar 86 — Bernd Luz
The original measures 160 × 110 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span, counting 0 from birth.
Painted when the artist was 49. 10 of the 17 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.
▲ this work, 2015 every dated painting, decade by decade
First works: up to 2006 Main working years: 2006–2015 Late works: from 2015
Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: wikioo.org/en/art/similar/bernd-luz-dakar-86-D2MBZ2-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Espresso #3c2b2e
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 22 works by this artist, of which 4 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 4 of them, with 25.0% of that attention. The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
Born in Rottenburg am Neckar, Germany
In the vibrant intersection where contemporary design meets fine art, the work of Bernd Luz emerges as a profound dialogue between the structured and the spontaneous. Born in 1966 in Rottenburg am Neckar, Germany, Luz has cultivated a creative identity that defies easy categorization, instead opting to bridge the divide between independent artistic expression and purposeful commissioned design. His journey is one of remarkable versatility, beginning with an early recognition of talent at the Swiss Youth Film Festival in 1986, which set the stage for a lifelong pursuit of visual storytelling. Before establishing himself as a master of the canvas, Luz grounded his creative impulses in the precision of craftsmanship, completing an apprenticeship as an industrial mechanic specializing in surgical technology—a discipline that undoubtedly instilled in him the meticulous attention to detail found in his later complex compositions.
Luz’s academic evolution further refined this balance of technical rigor and aesthetic fluidity. After studying photo design in Ravensburg, he pursued communication design at the FH Konstanz technical university, graduating with honors in 1993. This period marked his transition into the professional realm of design, leading to the founding of Design Studio revoLUZion. With studios spanning from Neuhausen ob Eck to Zurich and Schaffhausen, his influence as a designer expanded across Europe, with his creations finding homes in internationally acclaimed design books. This entrepreneurial spirit provided the foundation for his later artistic breakthroughs, allowing him to treat the canvas not merely as a surface for paint, but as a space for conceptual revolution.
A transformative milestone occurred in 2013 when Luz introduced the world to Abstract Pop, a genre of his own coinage. This stylistic innovation represents a sophisticated marriage of two seemingly disparate worlds: the bold, recognizable imagery of Pop Art and the emotive, textured depth of Abstraction. His technique is a masterful "media mix," a process that involves a layered approach to storytelling. Luz often begins with digital elements—photographed emblems of culture or historical icons—which are then transferred onto the canvas. Through the application of acrylics and contemporary solvent painting, he intervenes upon these images with manual brushwork, creating a fascinating tension between the mechanical and the human touch.
This method allows him to explore complex correlations through the principle of collage, isolating and rearranging elements to invite viewers into a deeper exploration of the image. Whether he is capturing the high-octane glamour of motorsport legends like Le Mans or the Nürburgring, or exploring the quiet majesty of wildlife and aviation, his work functions as a reflection of both the past and the present. He possesses a unique ability to extrude memories onto a single plane, transforming fleeting impressions of people, cities, and objects into permanent, evocative compositions that resonate with the viewer's own nostalgia and contemporary awareness.
The significance of Bernd Luz’s contribution to the contemporary art landscape lies in his refusal to be confined by fixed categories. He describes himself as a "color poet," an artist who depicts only those things that move him, ensuring that every piece is an authentic expression of passion. His work has garnered international acclaim, with exhibitions spanning from Germany and Switzerland to Almaty and Astana, earning him a reputation as a pioneer who can integrate folk ideas into the modern pop aesthetic. His ability to bridge the gap between the objective reality of design and the subjective emotion of abstract art has made his work a staple in galleries and museums worldwide.
Beyond the canvas, Luz’s influence extends into the cultural fabric of the automotive world, evidenced by his appointment to the Advisory Board of the New York Auto Museum. His dedication to celebrating the "glamor and fascination" of historical vehicles—from Ferrari and Porsche to Bugatti and Jaguar—demonstrates a profound respect for cultural heritage. As he continues to evolve, writing new art books and expanding his media mix technology, Bernd Luz remains a vital force in contemporary art, reminding us that life itself is a game that can be painted with images that are never forgotten.
wikioo.org/en/art/download/bernd-luz-dakar-86-D2MBZ2-en/
Look closely
Dakar 86 — Bernd Luz
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.