what are your favorite paintings of the last fifty years?

[escher]

A lot of times i hear the refrain that painting is dead. I don't think so, but anyway maybe because the recent history of art is not yet historicized it's difficult to know where to look and many artists are not well known.

[escher]

Come on, i don't pretend art historians, it's like more "i've seen this painting of Lucien Freud and i think it's great" 

[Lethevich]

I didn't answer because none really obsess me, but I could suggest Anselm Kiefer's watercolour sketches (seascapes and expressionist nudes). I initially didn't take them seriously when I saw the book they are collected in (Erotik im Fernen Osten oder), figuring he wanted to fill out another artbook on the quick, but they have a far more personal feel than his famous works, and maybe they are less cynical too.

I also like Wolfgang Bloch's huge canvases. I suppose that they can seem utilitarian and derivative, but I will reserve an opinion until I can see one in person. Even from photographs they can have a beautiful glow and directional force.

[escher]

thank you, i didn't know bloch.
I think i haven't seen also Kiefer's sketches, but anyway this one is by far my favorite of him (and one of my favorite paintings in recent times), is called twilight of the west, maybe you know it yet:
http://nga.gov.au/international/Catalogue/Images/LRG/14804.jpg

[Brian]

Two nominees I think of are Peter Doig's Blotter and Gerhard Richter's Ice. And, of course, all of my mom's paintings!*

*Actually she has a series of paintings derived from the Hubble telescope that are very cool indeed. No pics, sorry

[escher]

Gerhard Richter's Ice.

Never heard of Richter before, thank you, i've opened this topic exactly for this! About Doig, for me is probably one of the best around.

And, of course, all of my mom's paintings!*

*Actually she has a series of paintings derived from the Hubble telescope that are very cool indeed. No pics, sorry

Now i'm very curious 

[Coco]

Gerhard Richter's Ice.

I came here to say just that. I'm also a big fan of David Hockney and Ellsworth Kelly, but both of those are admittedly "old guard". I'm not too up on contemporary art.

I love Brice Marden also:

[escher]

I came here to say just that. I'm also a big fan of David Hockney and Ellsworth Kelly, but both of those are admittedly "old guard". I'm not too up on contemporary art.

fifty years, is not only about the artists of today, and obviously A bigger splash is one of the few undisputable classics.
I like Marden too, usually i'm not crazy about abstract expressionism but he's not bad

[Coco]

I know it's a cliché but his paintings do really have a physical presence, especially the monochromatic/pre-linear paintings from the 70s.

[Brian]

I came here to say just that.

Well, I found out about Gerhard Richter from you! There is a whole room of his work at the Tate Modern here, but the colors used aren't quite as magical/mystical as in "Ice." Still textural fascination.

[snyprrr]

Two nominees I think of are Peter Doig's Blotter and Gerhard Richter's Ice. And, of course, all of my mom's paintings!*

*Actually she has a series of paintings derived from the Hubble telescope that are very cool indeed. No pics, sorry

Those are both very nice. I really like the Debussyan one by Doig. The purples and blue and white.

White is definitely the New White!