Rotraut

Rotraut Klein-Moquay, known by her mononym Rotraut, is a German-French visual artist. Rotraut specializes in a distinct non-objective style, that is nonetheless grounded in organic shapes oftentimes having a real connection to the world.  She began her experimentation with painting and drawing as a teenager in Düsseldorf, living with her brother, artist Günther Uecker. In 1958, she moved to France to work as an au-pair for the artist Arman’s family and it is there she meets Yves Klein. She became his companion, assistant, model, muse and alter ego. In 1959, Rotraut has her first solo show at the New Visions Center Gallery. In 1962, only six months after marrying, her husband passed away and Rotraut has managed his portfolio and legacy since. In the 1970s, Rotraut gained overdue reception for her work, specifically for her celestially-patterned ‘Galaxies’ series, and was invited to a group show in the inaugural year of the Centre George Pompidou, Paris. Rotraut’s artistic output turned to sculpture in the 1990s, and her brightly-colored monumental sculptures have been exhibited around the world since. Her works are held by museums such as the Musée d’art moderne et d’art contemporain, Nice; the Kaiser Wilhelm Museum, Krefeld; and the Centre George Pompidou, Paris.