Richard Merkle

Richard Merkle (b. 1962) is a Stuttgart-based artist whose practice concentrates on spatial and chromatic harmonies. His skills in engineering and carpentry have led to many works that have a functional aspect. At the same time, he refers to American Minimalism, Josef Albers, the Wiener Werkstätte, and mentors such as Imi Knoebel. His custom work for Due Leoni is a subtle color contrast in which cloud and sea colors conjure the poetry of the Mediterranean.

Cornelia has worked with Richard Merkle over many decades. She met him in Stuttgart, where he had abandoned a study of mechanical engineering in order to become an artist. An habitué of the legendary art school of Achim Kubinski, he recalls that on the first day of class, Achim wore tennis whites, and swung a racket. This introduction to the life of art would deeply permeate Richard’s work from then on. In the 1980s, he designed useful sculpture--seating units, tables, libraries, for a myriad of private clients that included well-known artists and gallerists. His prodigious musical knowledge, particularly in pop culture, are another hallmark of that particular Stuttgart moment, with Kubinski, his mentor at time, an accomplished classical pianist as well. Merkle’s projects with Cornelia include a small publication, a wall-chair, the design of an art history library, and many years of fast friendship. When asked to make this commission, Merkle sought to resolve both the display of the object, and, of course, outdo all his colleagues, starting with the sheer number of designs. His quartet of cans (our magenta one is the first in production), will be realized one-by-one. Their title is “Brandenburg Gate,” because that’s what this object looks like. Starting in 2021, each year, one can from Brandenburg Gate will be produced, in a limited edition.

In 2024, the final can will be released including a pedestal and upper plinth, to form one complete work.