Thomas Ruff (b. 1958) is a contemporary German photographer and one of the most prominent members of the Düsseldorf School.

While Ruff is not considered an appropriation artist, his practice often includes adopting and manipulating a wide variety of existing photographic images to critique their creation, function, and their role in visual culture/society. 

In his "Sterne" (Stars) series beginning at the end of the 1980s, Ruff's childhood interests and professional limitations converge. Ruff had always been fascinated by the night sky and decided to attempt to document it. However, as a result of technical challenges, pollution, and light interference he realized that he was unable to produce the quality of images that would satisfy his exacting standards. 

Ruff began to acquire hundreds of slides produced by the European Southern Observatory (ESO). Their remote location in the Andes in Chile and their astrological technology enabled the ESO to create the types of images Ruff was striving to realize. In turn, Ruff began enlarging, manipulating, editing their images, and creating his own often supersized versions of the night sky. 

This photograph is a fine example of Ruff's oeuvre on a monumental scale.

Today, examples of Thomas Ruff's work can be found in museum collections worldwide, including the Art Institute of Chicago; Dallas Museum of Art; Essl Museum, Berlin; Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, DC; The MET; Moderna Museet, Stockholm; National Museum of Photography, Copenhagen; Guggenheim Museum, New York; and Stedelijk Museum Voor Actuele Kunst (S.M.A.K.), Ghent, among others.  

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"Star 16h 08m/-25°"

1992/2006

Chromogenic print

Edition of 30

55"H 36.5"W (image)

62.5"H 44.5"W (framed)

Excellent condition