Gockel, Alfred

Alfred Alexander Gockel, nicknamed Alex, was born in a tiny coal mining village close to Münster, Germany in 1952. Displaying talent early, his debut piece was published when he was 8. Although initially aspiring to be an engineer, destiny steered him to the German coal mines at 16. Witnessing the industry’s decline, which left many without work, profoundly affected Gockel. This influence echoes in his art, where he integrates self-prepared tar into his acrylic paintings.