Bernd Ribbeck (b. Cologne, 1974; lives and works in Berlin) is one of the most promising creators of abstract art today and is often described as an exponent of "New Constructivism." His small-format abstract paintings lend a fascinating depth and aura to shapes such as circles, ellipses, and triangles executed in lush colors. In a time-consuming creative process, Ribbeck works on primed fiberboard panels with acrylic paint and ballpoint and felt-tip pens before coating everything with a layer of white lacquer, much of which he subsequently scratches off. The resulting luminously colorful panels possess a forceful physical presence. The geometric and often symmetrical compositions he builds out of complex layerings of surfaces and lines reflect his engagement with a wide range of modernist aesthetic strategies in the work of artists such as Paul Klee, Lyonel Feininger, and others.