The German artist Bodo Wolfgang Klös, with his roots in the Hesse town of Lich, north of Frankfurt, is well known for his etchings and drawings which often include naked bodies, ravens, and a touch of wry humour. Klös learned etching techniques with Gerhard Sturm in 1977, working in his studio, and continued his studies with Klaus Böttger, Günther Hermann, Dieter Hoffmeister and Bernd Lang. Together with Hoffmeister, Klös established Gallery 42 in Giessen, specialising in prints and etchings, which opened in 1985 and operated for ten years.

When Gallery 42 closed, Bodo and his wife Birgit, together with Karlheinz Voll, opened a new gallery in Lich, Edition Noir, specialising in graphics and artist’s books. Edition Noir has published a series of Bodo Klös’s limited edition books, together with works by other artists including Dagmar Zemke, Frank Eissner and Tomi Ungerer. Now housed in Lich’s town hall, Edition Noir also includes an exhibition space and a traditional printing press, Bessinger Handpresse, with facilities for letterpress printing and producing high quality artists’ prints.

Of Klös’s work, the art critic Radu Vasile has written ‘He is a very good painter, a magnificent draftsman and engraver, a romantic and libertine – and on such a scale! He presents us with a voluptuous artistic challenge to savour without moderation.’

Bodo Klös’s Edition Noir website page, which features his work and that of other artists, can be found here (in German).

We would like to thank our Russian friend and contributor Yuri for introducing us to the work of this artist and supplying some of the images.