Residing between New York and Germany, artist Robert Knoke has gained recognition for his extensive series of portraits featuring a range of subjects from cultural figures to fashion icons. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both painters, Knoke knew what he’d do from an early age.
Growing up in his father’s studio in Hanover, Germany, Knoke never thought of doing anything else than becoming an artist. It was only later during his studies that he found out that “artist” might not be a real profession and that he’d eventually need to study something “real”, which he never did. After finishing school he studied art for a year, but decided to leave after a year, travelling to see family he had in New York. He ended up staying for a while and since then, travelling has become an important aspect of his work. Knoke’s encapturing black and white portrait series features a wide array of people, ranging from fashion personalities like Rick Owens and Bernhard Willhelm to artists such as Terence Koh and musicians Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince of The Kills. Done with conventional tools like ballpoint pens and markers, the series has been an ongoing project for him since 1991. It has since been displayed at Ruff Club New York and Apartment Gallery in Berlin.
