Max Ruf
Max Ruf (b. 1982, Germany) lives and works in Berlin and Lisbon. The artist’s paintings correspond to a landscape which is both natural and artificial; symbolic and physical. The tensions between these qualities merge with the material plasticity of paint to articulate an experiential reification of visual and sensorial experience.
Ruf holds a master’s degree in painting from the Royal College of Art, London. Selected solo exhibitions include: Forward, Union Pacific, London, United Kingdom (2019), ZERO, Svit, Prague, Czech Republic (2018) and NIMBYS, Zabriskie Point, Geneva, Switzerland (2017). Selected group exhibitions include: Ruf/Simon, Lo Brutto Stahl, Paris, France (2024), Terminus, Spencer Brownstone, New York, NY, USA (2023), Nuno Centeno, Porto, Portugal (2022), Architektura, Fuhrwerkswaage, Cologne, Germa (2021), and Gestaltung der Zukunft, Arp Museum, Bonn, Germany (2019).
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/ZkSgEiol0Zci9KM0_untitled-green-drawing-red-dots_max-ruf_ruf-simon-1.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max&w=6000&h=4000)
untitled (green drawing, red dots), 2023, oil on canvas, 120 x 80 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/ZkSfkyol0Zci9KMa_untitled-green-over-beige-white-frame_max-ruf_ruf-simon-01.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max&w=5997&h=3998)
untitled (green over beige, white frame), 2024, oil on canvas, 90 x 60 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/ZkSgZSol0Zci9KNC_untitled-six-black-rectangles-on-white-yellow-andblue-red-lines-black-lines-green_max-ruf_ruf-simon-01.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max&w=6000&h=4000)
untitled (six black rectangles on white, yellow and blue; red lines, black lines, green), 2023, oil on canvas, 195 x 140 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/ZkSg1Sol0Zci9KNL_untitled-green-dots-white-lines-blue-lines-grey_max-ruf_ruf-simon-1.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max&w=6000&h=4000)
untitled (green dots, white lines, blue lines, grey), 2022-2024, oil on linen, 190 x 220 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/MTg1MzZhMjktYTUwMi00Y2Y2LWIzNjItMGZiYzNkNjdkNWY0_max-ruf-_02-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1707&w=2560&h=1707&fit=max)
Volumen und Kapazität (installation view), 2021, die Treppe, Basel
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/MjRiYmMyODktMzNlZS00ZTk4LTg3MjktNjQ3ZGZhZWU3MDYy_max-ruf-_04-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1707&w=2560&h=1707&fit=max)
Volumen und Kapazität, 2021, oil on canvas, 130 x 230 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/ZTVjOGY4YTEtMzU2ZS00ZmQ1LTlmMmYtZGQyYjFmMzZmYjIx_max-ruf-_06-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1920&w=2560&h=1920&fit=max)
Untitled (imprint I, green on white, red), 2020, oil on canvas, 90 x 55 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/NmRlM2NiYTYtNTY3Ni00YjE2LTk3NWItZjgxNGFiNTI1NGUx_max-ruf-_09-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1708&w=2560&h=1708&fit=max)
Untitled (green lines, yellow, white wash, property), 2018, oil on canvas, 150 x 100 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/ZDBjYzI0ZGYtNzdiZi00Yjc1LWE1MWItN2U5YzY1Zjk0NTE5_max-ruf-_10-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1708&w=2560&h=1708&fit=max)
A room, two rooms (installation view), 2020, Kunsthalle Freeport, Porto
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/YTRlNTcxYTAtOGJmYy00ZGRlLWJhZDUtOWMzNmE1Zjg0ZjA1_max-ruf-_12-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1707&w=2560&h=1707&fit=max)
Untitled (blue lines, phthalo green, red wash, white), 2016-2019, oil on canvas, 245 x 135 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/ZTZjYjk1ZjItNTBjMC00NDNlLWEyNjktZjExZGFjYzI3MzNm_max-ruf-_14.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C1722%2C1134&w=1722&h=1134&fit=max)
Forward (installation view), 2019, Union Pacific
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/NDMxMDAzM2UtMjZhNS00M2VkLWI5ZWEtZDQ2NzQ3Njk4MDhi_max-ruf-_16-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C1724%2C2560&w=1724&h=2560&fit=max)
Untitled (red shape, red field, dark background), 2018, oil on canvas, 80 x 120 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/NWE2MGZhODAtY2MzMi00Zjg2LTg0MzktYzQxMmM2NGNhZGE4_max-ruf-_18-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1709&w=2560&h=1709&fit=max)
Allergische Instrumente (Installation view featuring Philip Simon), 2019, Liszt, Berlin
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/NWZiMmMzNDEtYjdkOC00MzNhLTk4MDAtOTVkZjA1YTFmNzU3_max-ruf-_20-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1707&w=2560&h=1707&fit=max)
Zero (installation view), 2018, Svit, Prague
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/NmNhN2Y3ZWQtYWNmNC00ZDE2LTkyNDctMjBhODNkNjJiZGY1_max-ruf-_22-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1707&w=2560&h=1707&fit=max)
Zero (installation view), 2018, Svit, Prague
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/ZTkwODZiYTktMjQ4ZC00NDE2LWE2OWEtMjhkYWNlZjc2ZmUw_max-ruf-_24.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C945%2C1417&w=945&h=1417&fit=max)
Untitled (green horse, green background, vertical), 2017, oil on canvas,130 x 230 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/ZDljYzlmMmItNmRhNC00NDA3LTgwNGUtNWEwNzFkOTJkYzlj_max-ruf-_26-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1714&w=2560&h=1714&fit=max)
Board II, 2016, pencil, colour pencil and felt pen on paper, tape, fabric, 250 x 165 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/Nzk3YjMyMzQtY2YxZi00NTBmLWJiMjEtMTg0OThhM2Y2YWYz_max-ruf-_28-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1707&w=2560&h=1707&fit=max)
Phthalo Green (installation view), 2015, Union Pacific
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/YmU5Mzc3NGQtMTlmMy00NDUwLThkNDgtYTEyODUwOTIzOTJi_max-ruf-_30-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1707&w=2560&h=1707&fit=max)
Untitled (prussian blue, blues, greens, three grey fields), 2015, oil on canvas, 300 × 140 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/ZTA0OWJlOTgtYjViMi00NjQ5LWJkMjUtYWJkYzIyOGYzNWU2_max-ruf-_32-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1707&w=2560&h=1707&fit=max)
Stadt installation view, 2016, oil on canvas, Murias Centeno, Lisbon
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/OGQ4ZWJjMGEtMGZlZC00NzRjLWE3MjctOGNlMTg0OGVhY2E3_max-ruf-_34-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C1707%2C2560&w=1707&h=2560&fit=max)
Untitled ( green lines and old english red, on grey, black and yellow ), 2016, oil on canvas, 134 x 245 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/ZkSf5Sol0Zci9KMr_untitled-red-and-black-dots-on-white_max-ruf_ruf-simon-1.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max&w=6000&h=4000)
untitled (red and black dots on white), 2024, oil on linen, 230 x 200 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/ZkSgQCol0Zci9KNB_untitled-white-dots-on-green-lines-blue-old-english-red-green-black_max-ruf_ruf-simon-01.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max&w=6000&h=4000)
(white dots on green lines, blue, old english red, green, black), 2021-24, oil on canvas, 230 x 200 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/ZkSgkSol0Zci9KNH_untitled-three-arches-four-black-dots_max-ruf_ruf-simon-01.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max&w=6000&h=4000)
untitled (three arches, four black dots), 2023, oil on canvas, 90 x 60 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/YTMwNWQ3ZWItOTMwNS00ZGZlLWFjZmYtOWJiNWE5YTNkOGM0_max-ruf-_01-1-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1707&w=2560&h=1707&fit=max)
Volumen und Kapazität (installation view), 2021, die Treppe, Basel
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/ZTYyNzc2NTgtZTQyZS00OGZhLWE3ZDMtYjFiMGRiOTkxNTg3_max-ruf-_03-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C1707%2C2560&w=1707&h=2560&fit=max)
Volumen und Kapazität, 2021, oil on canvas 130 x 230 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/NDkxNjA3MzktODM2Ny00ZTIzLWEzMTYtOTVmYTAzNzQ2ZjU5_max-ruf-_05-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1920&w=2560&h=1920&fit=max)
Untitled, 2020, oil on canvas and oil on linen, 210 x 102 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/ZDIwMWQ3MTItZjZmOS00MGNkLWJhOWYtOTlhMjlkYTUxMTM1_max-ruf-_07-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1708&w=2560&h=1708&fit=max)
A Room, Two Rooms (installation view), Kunsthalle Freeport, Porto, 2020
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/YmZkMWRlYTAtMWU5My00MDAyLTljNWItNjg1Yjk0YThjYmIw_max-ruf-_08-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1708&w=2560&h=1708&fit=max)
Untitled (green, four green points, composition), 2020, oil on canvas, 150 x 100 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/Yzc3MDE1N2UtYWMyNS00Yjc2LWE4ODUtZmRlNDJhNjU2Y2Rm_max-ruf-_11-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1731&w=2560&h=1731&fit=max)
Untitled (transparent green lines, blue, two figures, horizontal), 2019, oil on canvas, 230 x 130 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/MmYyYzAyZTYtMzY3OC00Yzg3LTlkYmQtNGE3ZDU3NWI0MDgx_max-ruf-_13.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C1701%2C1134&w=1701&h=1134&fit=max)
Forward (installation view), 2019, Union Pacific
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/OTkwMDVmNTAtMTI5YS00NDhkLThlMDQtNzczYjNjZWQ0MTJm_max-ruf-_15.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C1701%2C1134&w=1701&h=1134&fit=max)
Untitled (red shape, red field, dark background), 2018, oil on canvas, 80 x 120 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/OWM3YjFkNTUtMDg2OS00MTY1LTg2OWYtZGJkNmUxMWMxYjEw_max-ruf-_17-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1707&w=2560&h=1707&fit=max)
Untitled (three horizontal lines, two red figures, green), 2019, oil on canvas, 90 x 60 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/ZDQ5ZWM0YTAtYjRjYS00ZGM1LWFiN2EtMGFiYzZlNmM5MmZl_max-ruf-_19-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1694&w=2560&h=1694&fit=max)
Untitled (transparent yellow), 2018, oil on canvas, 130 x 230 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/M2UyOWRiNGYtZjgxNi00Yzc2LTlkYmYtZmMxOWQ4NTUwYzFl_max-ruf-_21-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1707&w=2560&h=1707&fit=max)
Zero (installation view), 2018, Svit, Prague
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/YTZiNzZhNzMtMWNkNS00MTQwLThmMjgtNTEzYTlmN2M2ZGVm_max-ruf-_23.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C960%2C1440&w=960&h=1440&fit=max)
Untitled (black field, red field, blue lines, green, white), 2017, oil on canvas, 134 x 195 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/NGQwNDQ1YWItODYxNi00Mzc5LTkyZTItOTdlY2ZiM2M1NDU3_max-ruf-_25-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1714&w=2560&h=1714&fit=max)
Toujours, 2016, Parkhaus, Kunstverein im Malkastenpark, Düsseldorf (Featured with Jan Kiefer)
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/NjI5MGU2YWQtY2I0NS00Y2YwLWFmZDYtMTM3ZDlmNGY5Mjg1_max-ruf-_27-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1714&w=2560&h=1714&fit=max)
Board III, 2016, pencil, colour pencil and felt pen on paper, tape, fabric, 250 x 165 cm
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/MDI3OWIxZWEtYTA1Mi00YjBiLTk5YWItNWY3M2I5Y2JjM2Vl_max-ruf-_29-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1707&w=2560&h=1707&fit=max)
Phthalo Green (installation view), 2015, Union Pacific
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/NmQ0NjY0YTYtOGM3NC00M2E0LWJlMDQtNmI2MzNhZDhiZjJi_max-ruf-_31-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1707&w=2560&h=1707&fit=max)
Haus 8 (installation view), 2015, Union Pacific, London
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/OTc0YTFlNTQtYjJhZC00OTU0LWI1MzUtOTMyMTdiMjE1NmQ5_max-ruf-_33-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C2560%2C1709&w=2560&h=1709&fit=max)
Postcodes (soft) installation view, 2015, Casa do Povo, Sao Paulo
(curated by Gabriel Lima and Pedro Wirz; with Erika Verzutti, Pedro Neves Marques and Emanuel Rohss)
![](https://images.prismic.io/unionpacific/ZTgxOGM4YmQtZTc4OC00NzY0LWI1ZWMtM2YzZTU1NmQzZDU1_max-ruf-_35-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&rect=0%2C0%2C1920%2C2560&w=1920&h=2560&fit=max)
White Shining Statue, 2013, bronze, 34 x 52 cm