Get to Know the 12 Galleries From Cologne and Bonn at AD2022
Words: Chris Erik Thomas.
While Düsseldorf may get much of the spotlight within the region’s contemporary art scene, the fact is that the entirety of Germany’s Rhineland is rich in art and culture. One need only look at the galleries representing Cologne and Bonn at this year’s edition of Art Düsseldorf to see that there are many great positions to explore. As we prepare to welcome 11 galleries from Cologne and one gallery from Bonn, we extend an especially warm welcome to the three joining the art fair for the first time: Clages, Drei, and Fiebach, Minninger.
Before the industrial hall of Areal Böhler opens from April 8-10 for Art Düsseldorf, we welcome you to get to know the 12 galleries from across Cologne and Bonn who will be joining us this year.
Please note the booth numbers for each gallery are presented in brackets.
Christian Theiss. "o.T. (octopus)", 2021. Paper mache, styrofoam, metal, plastic, lacquer, synthetic resin. 154 x 80 x 90 cm. Courtesy: Christian Theiß and Clages, Cologne.
After opening its doors with a solo show by Jelena Tomasevic in 2007, the gallery has spent over a decade curating a roster of contemporary artists. As one of the new additions to Art Düsseldorf, the gallery will make its debut with works by Christian Theiß, Anne Pöhlmann, and Isabella Fürnkäs.
Founded in 2015, the gallery has become an integral part of Cologne’s contemporary art scene. Situated within the city’s Belgian Quarter, it features an international program spanning generations and disciplines, including such artists as Matthias Groebel, Julia Scher, and Anna Virnich.
The gallery will return to the fair in a special shared booth with the Düsseldorf-based Lucas Hirsch gallery that will feature works by Mira Mann, Simon Mielke, Phung-Tien Phan, and Niklas Taleb.
When Anja Minninger and Henning Fiebach opened the doors of their gallery in 2000, they began a journey into the contemporary art scene that’s now gone on for over two decades. In 2015, as the gallery moved into a new location, it also shifted in a new direction. For the last seven years, it has focused on nurturing relationships with new artists. Through group, solo, and duo exhibitions, it has become a well-known locale for the most current takes on contemporary art.
For its first outing at Art Düsseldorf, the gallery will present works by Arthur Loewen and Laura Schawelka.
Arthur Loewen. "Index Variation 5", 2022. Acrylic on canvas. 180x130cm. ©Arthur Loewen and Fiebach, Minninger.
Beginning in 2005 with a group show of artists Horst Münch, Steven Parrino, Jessica Stockholder, and David Reed, the gallery has spent 17 years cultivating a roster of contemporary artists. While the gallery has shown works in a range of mediums, it has become especially known for showing works of painting, sculpture, and concrete art.
At Areal Böhler, the gallery will show works by Richard Allen Morris, Birgit Werres, Steffen Lenk, Fabian Marcaccio, David Reed, Elisabeth Vary, Rey Akdogan, and Stephan Baumkötter.
Since 2011, the Cologne-based gallery has been showing the most relevant positions in contemporary photography. Since opening its doors over a decade ago with a series by Los Angeles-based artist Gregory Bojorquez, it spent its first few years as a pop-up space moving between Berlin and Cologne, before settling into its primary location in 2017. Four years later, during its 10th anniversary, the gallery opened a secondary space dedicated to artist events, shows, and discussions.
At Art Düsseldorf, the gallery will show a selection of works by their represented artists.
Proudly in operation for nearly two centuries, the gallery first opened its doors in 1838. Throughout its rich history, the gallery has specialized in works of modern and contemporary art, with an emphasis on works on paper and international prints. As a member of two prestigious organizations for fine print dealers, the gallery has developed a reputation for its collection of works – with pieces by Andy Warhol, Henri Matisse, Josef Albers, and more.
As the gallery makes its return to the art fair for another year, it will be showing a curated selection of works by Jan Voss, David Hockney, and Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude. "Wrapped Reichstag", 1995. unique piece - collage, mixed media, photography, fabric. 37 x 56 cm. Signed and dated. ©Galerie Boisserée.
After assisting at Galerie Klein in Bad Münstereifel for nearly a decade, Christian Lethert founded his namesake gallery in 2006. The gallery has spent over a decade honing its collection of painting, sculpture, and photography. With a focus on reduced and abstract positions within the contemporary art scene, it has fostered relationships with both internationally established and young contemporary European artists. With a 120-square-meter space for exhibitions in the city’s famed Belgian quarter, the gallery presents a regular rotation of solo and group shows, in addition to a series of lectures and discussions.
Since its launch in 2000, the gallery has stayed ahead of the curve of contemporary art throughout its 22-year history. After first focusing on art made in times of great social upheaval – including the 1920s and the 1970s through to today – the gallery has more recently focused its attention on art’s shift towards the virtual, including NFTs.
With its return to Art Düsseldorf, the gallery will present works from Zohar Fraiman, Fabian Herkenhoener, Radenko Milak, Banz & Bowinkel, and a series of portraits from photographer Pieter Hugo.
Pieter Hugo. Untitled, San Francisco, 2014 from the series "Californian
Wildflowers", c-print. 105 x 139 cm. ©Pieter Hugo, courtesy PRISKA PASQUER, Cologne.
After years spent under the name Figge von Rosen Galerie, Philipp von Rosen was established in 2015 by its eponymous owner. In the seven years since opening its doors, the gallery has built up the careers of numerous young artists and strengthened the careers of established talent. Alongside exhibitions of work by artists under representation with the gallery, Philipp von Rosen occasionally showcases works by artists they don’t permanently represent.
This year, the gallery returns to Düsseldorf with a showing of pieces by Silke Albrecht, Martin Gewers, Markus Huemer, and Jonas Maas.
Since its founding in 1995, the gallery has focused itself on strengthening the narrative and conceptual contemporary positions of its roster of artists. For nearly two decades, the gallery has presented solo and group exhibitions across a range of mediums, with a special emphasis on painting.
As the gallery marks another year with Art Düsseldorf, they will present works by Andreas Gefeller, Francois Jacob, Joëlle Dubois, Pauline M’Barek, and Peter Tollens.
Joëlle Dubois. "She Makes It Work", 2021. Acrylic on wood. Acrylic, epoxy on wood. 30 x 25 cm. Courtesy of Thomas Rehbein Gallery.
The gallery has presented a steady stream of exhibitions since opening its doors in 1996, including a range of works in photography, mixed media, and conceptual art. After 16 years in operation, an additional exhibition space was opened above the gallery in 2012, which is appropriately called Second Floor. With photographic works as its core foundation, the gallery has amassed a strong collection of work from such legendary artists as Diane Arbus, Lee Friedlander, Walker Evans, and Helen Levitt. Along with their exhibitions, the gallery also offers long-term consulting and has published a number of monographs and catalogs.
As they settle into Areal Böhler once again, expect to find a number of works at the booth by the artists Christiane Baumgartner, Allana Clarke, Candida Höfer, Joanna Piotrowska, and James White.
Representing Bonn at this year’s fair, the gallery that began in 2014 has become one of the city’s most exciting contemporary art spaces. Housed in a building designed by architect Uwe Schröder, the space is home to a range of international, established, and new artists. Aside from its regular selection of exhibitions, the gallery also includes a project room for more specialized work with curators and artists.
A selection of works by Michelle Grabner, Sabrina Jung, TROUBLE Inc., and Ulrike Rosenbach will be on view at this year’s fair.
Chris Erik Thomas is the Digital Editor of Art Düsseldorf. They work as a freelance writer and editor in Berlin and focus primarily on culture, art, and media. Their work can also be seen in Highsnobiety, The Face Magazine, and other publications.
