German art star Gerhard Richter turns 85

All 26 paintings on display at the "New Paintings" exhibition at the Museum Ludwig in Cologne were painted by Gerhard Richter in 2016 - after years of lower productivity. All the more reason to really let it fly with these new images. Who wouldn't lose themselves in this rush of color, starstruck by the richness of its form and the rhythm characteristic of Richter's latest works?

Richter sometimes paints on canvas, like here, at other times on wood or even aluminium. In exciting, clear colors, he has created powerful motifs. This color-intensive 2016 work looks as though it is one of the last artistic eruptions from the artist, who turns 85 on February 9. The Museum Ludwig in his adopted hometown is honoring Richter on the occassion of his birth with his own exhibition.

Richter has frequently shown his works at the Museum Ludwig. The founder of Cologne's modern art museum, Peter Ludwig, started collecting the artist's works back in the 1970s. That's how this image, "Ema," came into the museum's hands. The artist has said there are no autobiographical elements in his work.

Using a brush, putty knife, squeegee or knife, Gerhard Richter creates his works in layers of oil paints. The result, says the artist, is a fluke. Yet the detailed and well-formed compositions exhibit the painter's many years of experience.

The abstract painting "War" from 1981 is one of the highlights of the Richter collection in Cologne. In the current exhibition, it is hung alongside Richter's "New Paintings" and is incredibly valuable. Richter's works sell for millions - which he's called "make-believe prices."

This work from 1967, "Five Doors," was one of those initially purchased by collector Peter Ludwig. Today, Richter is one of Germany's most famous living artists. Over the last 50 years, his style, motives and methods have evolved, broadening the possibilities that painting affords.

This abstract is a recent work. Richter knew "a bit late" - at the age of 16 that he wanted to be a painter. "I was quite introverted and often alone. At the time, I sketched quite a bit and painted." But self-portraits have always been too embarrassing for him, he's said, adding that he didn't want anyone to recognize him while out in public. "The main thing is that people know my paintings."

He came from East Germany, spent his adulthood West Germany and managed to become famous worldwide as a representative of unified Germany. Today, he is arguably the most famous living artists. Some have even called him a 21st-century Picasso, and Richter's paintings claim the highest prices on the art market.