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Almine Rech

Jannis Kounellis

Born in Greece, but living in Italy since 1956, Kounellis has been a major figure in contemporary art for over fifty years. The artist is often referred to as one of the forefathers of the Arte Povera movement – a movement that arose in the 1960s and played a central role in redefining artistic practice with radical and highly original sculpture, performance and installation. Influenced by artists such as Alberto Burri, Lucio Fontana, Jackson Pollock and Franz Kline, and both within the context of Arte Povera and outside of it, Kounellis has throughout his career interrogated and extended the boundaries of contemporary art, and in particular the possibilities of painting. Although most of his works are three-dimensional and comprised of ready-made objects (sometimes even living objects – horses, birds and humans), Kounellis has always insisted he is a painter first and foremost.

Selected artworks

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2014

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2014

    Iron, canvas, oil
    200 x 180 cm
    78 3/4 x 70 7/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2014

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2014

    Iron, canvas, oil
    200 x 180 cm
    78 3/4 x 70 7/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2014

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2014

    Mixed media
    104 x 73,5 x 22 cm
    41 x 28 3/4 x 8 5/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Black Rose, 1965-66

    Jannis Kounellis Black Rose, 1965-66

    Ducotone on canvas
    210 x 210 cm
    82 5/8 x 82 5/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 1960

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 1960

    Tempera on cardboard
    72,7 x 101,7 cm
    28 5/8 x 40 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Remo, 1961

    Jannis Kounellis Remo, 1961

    Oil on cardboard
    73,5 x 104 x 22 cm
    28 7/8 x 41 x 8 5/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2014

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2014

    Mixed media
    100 x 69,5 x 22 cm
    39 3/8 x 27 3/8 x 8 5/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2014

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2014

    Iron, melted lead
    200 x 180 cm
    78 3/4 x 70 7/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2014

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2014

    Iron, string
    200 x 180 cm
    78 3/4 x 70 7/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2013

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2013

    Iron, string
    200 x 180 cm
    78 3/4 x 70 7/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 1968

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 1968

    Juta bags, coal
    220 cm
    86 5/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2014

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2014

    Iron, canvas, enamel
    200 x 180 cm
    78 3/4 x 70 7/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2014

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2014

    Painted iron plate, iron
    200 x 180 cm
    78 3/4 x 70 7/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2014

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2014

    Iron, canvas
    200 x 180 cm
    78 3/4 x 70 7/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2014

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2014

    Iron, coal
    200 x 180 cm
    78 3/4 x 70 7/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2014

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2014

    Iron, canvas, oil
    200 x 180 cm
    78 3/4 x 70 7/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2014

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2014

    Iron, canvas, enamel
    200 x 180 cm
    78 3/4 x 70 7/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2014

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2014

    Iron, canvas, oil
    200 x 180 cm
    78 3/4 x 70 7/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2014

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2014

    Iron, canvas, oil
    200 x 180 cm
    78 3/4 x 70 7/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2014

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2014

    Iron
    200 x 180 cm
    78 3/4 x 70 7/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2014

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2014

    Iron, canvas, oil
    200 x 180 cm
    78 3/4 x 70 7/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2014

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2014

    Iron, canvas, oil
    200 x 180 cm
    78 3/4 x 70 7/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2014

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2014

    Iron, canvas, enamel
    200 x 180 cm
    78 3/4 x 70 7/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2014

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2014

    Iron, canvas, oil
    200 x 180 cm
    78 3/4 x 70 7/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2014

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2014

    Iron, canvas, oil
    200 x 180 cm
    78 3/4 x 70 7/8 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2005

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2005

    Steel brace, tar, paper on steel plate
    200 x 200 cm
    78 3/4 x 78 3/4 in

  • Jannis Kounellis,                                      Untitled, 2008

    Jannis Kounellis Untitled, 2008

    Lead, casted Murano glass, iron wire, coats on steel panel
    200 x 180 cm
    78 3/4 x 70 7/8 in

Selected press