Elvira Bach was born in Neuenhain in 1951. She studied at the State Glass School in Hadamar and at the Academy of Fine Arts. She is considered a representative of Neo-Expressionism and the Young Wild Ones around 1980, which are characterized by expressive and color-intensive paintings. In her works, she deals with images of women that reflect her own biography. Her participation in Documenta 7 in Kassel was her national and international breakthrough.
In a neo-expressionist manner, Elvira Bach paints portraits of women that exude self-confidence. With expressive brushstrokes, the artist depicts women in everyday yet powerful situations. Elvira Bach’s own life story is reflected in her paintings. In the 1980s, her works depicted courageous young women in nightlife or professional life. As she withdrew into family life, themes such as children and housework increasingly came to the fore, but the tone of the female figures remained the same: emancipated, free, and cheeky. In the 1980s, she was considered a representative of the Junge Wilde (Young Wild Ones) and was invited to Documenta 7 in Kassel in 1982.