No exhibition for many years! The estate can now be rediscovered!

Fritz Geerken is said to have produced over 4,000 works in the course of his life. Even during his lifetime, he had a number of exhibitions in the region and throughout Germany.
Contacts and stories about the Worpswede artists' colony and the artists of his time underline his firm place as a Worpswede artist of the second generation.
Over the last 20 years, the estate has been quiet, so much of it could have been forgotten. But now the floods have given us the impetus to bring things back to light. We are very pleased!

A master of etching

Only a small selection of Fritz Geerken's life's work can be shown here, and these are mainly etchings.

Fritz Geerken, who grew up on a farm in Niederblockland on the small Wümme, knew how to depict his homeland, the North German landscape, in a realistic and natural way in warm and rich, especially blue and brown colors.

He conquered the world through drawing. Even as a child, drawing and painting were his favorite activities. He never left without a sketch pad, so that he could capture the beauty of nature, large and small, with pen or chalk.

The artist devoted himself in particular to the art of etching using a variety of techniques. He printed the etchings himself on his own press, many in color and with several plates. In his etchings and oil paintings, he used his artistic imagination to bring the events back to life, filled with his feelings.

Watercolors were his spontaneous visual experiences, which he wrote down in the open air.

All works are images of visible reality. They convey a sense of reverence for the diverse manifestations of creation. Fritz Geerken transformed his experiences into images in a delightful way, which the viewer immediately senses.

After graduating from high school in 1933, Geerken studied art history, education, philosophy and psychology in Hamburg. In addition to his responsibilities as a teacher, he always worked as a draftsman, painter and etcher. "The two professions enrich each other," he once said.

On numerous study trips to the Scandinavian countries, where he was particularly interested in the Norwegian fjords, as well as to Greece, France, Spain and Yugoslavia, Fritz Geerken expanded his knowledge, his skills and his view of the landscapes, their people and their peculiarities.

Numerous exhibitions, including in Berlin, Braunschweig, Osnabrück, Svendborg Denmark, Bremen, Worpswede and Lilienthal, brought the artist recognition and praise. His paintings found many fans. Some works were also purchased by the Bremen state. Geerken was a member of the Bremen Artists' Association from 1948 onwards, including several years on the board.

Fritz Geerken's artistic existence has been fulfilled. He died on December 29, 1991. His spirit lives on in his works. They will be preserved for posterity.

Through the flood to the surface

The catastrophic floods in December and January hit the municipality of Lilienthal and the district of Borgfeld particularly hard.
Due to the flooding of the Geerken family's house, Fritz Geerken's estate was also affected and had to be rescued from the basement before the floods. NDR Kultur reported

NDR Kultur also reported shortly afterwards about our offer of help and the possible implementation of this exhibition.

We are happy that it worked out and that something good could come out of a terrible natural disaster!

Vernissage on March 17, 2024 - from 2:00 p.m.

We invite you to the exhibition opening! Friends, acquaintances and all art lovers are welcome! Fritz Geerken's large family and descendants will be present. The exhibition opening will be accompanied by a musical supporting program.