Max Regenberg

Biography

Max Regenberg was born in Bremerhaven in 1951 and initially began training as a photographer in Cologne in 1974. Since 1979 he has been conducting a long-range study of billboards in public spaces. In his photographic study Max Regenberg takes up the glamorous character of the advertising images and reflects their aesthetic impact made up of visual and verbal codes.
„Max Regenberg did not try to be critical, he simply wanted to capture photographically how the zeitgeist patronized cars, cigarettes, photocopiers, designer jeans, women’s underwear. He photographed ads of the Polish trade union Solidarność, a Honda motorcycle, an AGFA camera, and a Fujifilm motif; ads that resembled paintings by Roy Lichtenstein and David Hockney, and a billboard that asked “Who Puts You in The Picture?”. This was the suggestive question he was formulating with his photographs. […]” (Jeff Rian: Im Bild. Max Regenberg: 1978- 1985)

His work does not follow a strict set of rules, but reacts individually to each given situation. Regenberg sets priority on the coherent and convincing single image, the singular viewing experience–instead of the documentation designed as series.

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Biography

Born 1951 in Bremerhaven, Germany.

Lives and works in Cologne, Germany.

Education

2000

Started to work independently as an artist

1988

Begin working as self-employed advertising photographer

1980

Started studies in the theory of photography and media

Begin of the documentary long-term study:

“Das menschliche Abbild in der Werbung im öffentlichen Raum”

(The Human Image in Advertising in Public Space)

1977 – 1980

Emigrated to Canada

1974 – 1976

Training for advertising photography, Cologne

Grants and Awards

2009 – 2012

Artist in Residence, Los Angeles, California, USA

2002

Toyota Art Prize, Cologne

2001

Peter Keetmann-Preis, Hamburg (Volkswagen Foundation)

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2023

No borders. No clocks. No deadlines., Galerie Thomas Zander, Cologne

2016

Max Regenberg. Urban decorations – die dekorierte Stadt, SK-Stifung Kultur, Cologne

2015

Max Regenberg, Kunsthalle Bremerhaven, Bremerhaven

Max Regenberg. Billboards, Galerie Thomas Zander, Cologne

2014

Max Regenberg. L’Usage Du Paysage, Centre de la photographie, Geneva, Switzerland

Max Regenberg. Fair Use, Fondation A Stichting, Brussels, Belgium

2013

Max Regenberg. Der Gebrauch der Landschaft, Städtische Galerie, Wolfsburg

2012

Max Regenberg. M Come To Where, Galerie Thomas Zander, Cologne

2011

Max Regenberg. M Come to Where, Galerie f5,6, Munich

2007

Max Regenberg, PAN, Emmerich

2004

Max Regenberg, Rotonda Galerie, Cologne

Max Regenberg, Kulturhaus Osterfeld, Pforzheim

Max Regenberg, Museum Schloss Moyland, Bedburg Hau

2002

Max Regenberg, Städtische Galerie, Iserlohn

Max Regenberg, c/o Berlin, Berlin

2001

Max Regenberg, Gothaer Kunstforum, Cologne

2000

Max Regenberg, Rheinisches Landesmuseum, Bonn

Max Regenberg. Neue Arbeiten, Galerie Thomas Zander, Cologne

Selected Group Exhibitions

2020

BOOKS. An exhibition of books about art and art about books, Galerie Thomas Zander, Cologne, Germany

Emotion and Structure, Galerie Thomas Zander, Cologne

Subject and Object, Photo Rhine Ruhr, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf

2018

Doing the Document. Photographs from Diane Arbus to Piet Zwart, The Bartenbach Donation, Museum Ludwig, Cologne

Streetwise, Galerie Thomas Zander, Cologne

2017

Everything Happens Somewhere – Landschaftsstrategien, Galerie Thomas Zander, Cologne

Bilderstrom – Der Rhein und die Fotografie 2016-1853, LVR LandesMuseum, Bonn

Innere Sicherheit / The State I am in #1, Photoszene Festival, Kunsträume am Ebertplatz, Cologne

Advertisement. The Art of Communication, Stadtmuseum, Düsseldorf

2016

Neuen Editionen, Kunstverein Bremerhaven e.V., Bremerhaven

2013

Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival 2013, Field of Vision, Toronto, Canada

2007

Stadt-Bild-Köln, Fotografische Sammlung / SK Stiftung Kultur, Cologne

2006

New Talents, Art Cologne, Cologne

Emprise Art Award 2006, Stadtmuseum, Düsseldorf

2004

Von Körpern und anderen Dingen – Deutsche Fotografie von der Weimarer bis zur Berliner Republik, Moscow House of Photography, Multimedia Art Museum, Moscow, Russia and Museum Bochum, Bochum

2003

Von Körpern und anderen Dingen – Deutsche Fotografie von der Weimarer bis zur Berliner Republik, City Gallery, Prague, Czech Republic and Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin

2002

Museum der Arbeit, Hamburg

2000

Stadtkunst, Bonn

Selected Bibliography

2014

Max Regenberg. Billboards, exh. cat., Galerie Thomas Zander, Cologne, Germany

2011

Max Regenberg. M Come To Where, White Press

2009

The La Brea Matrix, Cologne, Schaden Verlag, Bonn, Germany

2005

Max Regenberg. Retrospektive, exh. cat., Museum Schloss Moyland, Bedburg-Hau, Germany

2003

Von Körpern und anderen Dingen – Deutsche Fotografie von der Weimarer bis zur Berliner Republik, exh. cat., Heidelberg, Germany

2001

Max Regenberg, Paul Schwer, exh. cat., Gothaer Kunstforum, Cologne, Germany

2000

Max Regenberg. Power is nothing without control – Plakat und öffentlicher Raum, Eine fotografische Langzeitstudie, Ausstellungshalle Alte Rotation, Schaden Verlag, Bonn, Germany