Born in Oels, Lower Silesia, Sigmar Polke studied at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf under Joseph Beuys and Karl Otto Götz. He emerged in the 1960s as a co-founder of the Capitalist Realism movement, a satirical response to both Western consumer culture and Socialist Realism.

Throughout his career, Polke maintained a restless, experimental practice. In the 1970s, he shifted his focus toward photography, before returning to large-scale painting in the 1980s. His signature style often involved the use of industrial materials and chemical processes, resulting in abstract surfaces that challenged traditional notions of authorship and technique.

Polke's influence remains significant in contemporary art discourse. His work continues to be featured in major institutional surveys, such as the 2026 'Clair-obscur' exhibition at the Bourse de Commerce in Paris, which highlights his enduring contribution to the exploration of light, shadow, and materiality.