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Here are AD2022’s 12 Galleries From Munich, Hamburg, and Frankfurt

Three cities. One passion for contemporary art.

Words: Chris Erik Thomas.

While a few hundred kilometers may separate the cities of Munich, Hamburg, and Frankfurt, it is their bustling contemporary art markets that unite them. For decades, the German cities have been incubators for both new talent and established positions within the scene. Building up unique webs of galleries that stretch across their respective neighborhoods.

Some, like Max Goelitz in Munich and PPC Philipp Pflug Contemporary, have existed for less than a decade, while others have existed for decades. In Hamburg, renowned spaces have staked out a space in the scene since the 1970s, including Levy Galerie since 1970 and Produzentengalerie Hamburg since 1973.

In total, Art Düsseldorf will welcome 12 galleries from these three renowned cities to this year’s art fair — including four galleries who will join us at Areal Böhler for the first time. Scroll through to get all the important info you need to know about each of the dozen galleries.

Please note the booth numbers for each gallery are presented in brackets.

Hedwig Eberle. "(HE/M 86) Untitled:, 2021.
Oil, ink and gesso on canvas. 200 x 160 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Jahn and Jahn, Munich.

JAHN UND JAHN [I06]

Two became one in 2017 as Fred Jahn and Matthias Jahn merged their separate galleries to form their Munich-based gallery. For Fred, the merger came after running Gaerlie Fred Jahn alongside Heiner Friedrich beginning in 1978. Meanwhile, Matthias brought nearly a decade of experience from running the gallery he founded in 2008. A year after opening Jahn und Jahn, the addition of Tim Geissler as a partner created the foundation for what has become a tight collaborative space dedicated to advancing the most relevant positions in contemporary art — including through a number of publications.

As the gallery makes its return to Art Düsseldorf, it will show work by the artists Hermann Nitsch, Imi Knoebel, Hedwig Eberle, Julius Heinemann, and Heinz Butz.

 

KNUST KUNZ GALLERY EDITIONS (NEW) [H12]

After originally opening its doors in 1982 as Galerie Sabine Knust, the gallery added Matthias Kunz as a partner in 1998, which led to its current name. During these four decades, the gallery has nurtured collaborations with a range of regional and international artists. Alongside its space near Munich’s Odeonsplatz, the gallery has expanded twice. First, in 2010, it opened KNUSTxKUNZ+ in the city’s Museums quarter to showcase emerging artists, as well as new projects and publications. Finally, in 2021, the gallery expanded past Munich to open a temporary third space in Belgium’s seaside Knokke-Heist region.

From April 8-10 at Areal Böhler, the gallery will offer works by the famed German artist Olaf Nicolai.

 

MAX GOELITZ (NEW) [A08]

Although the namesake gallery began only two years ago, in March 2020, its founder brought a wealth of experience with him. Formerly acting as the director of Häusler Contemporary, Zurich for over a decade, his new gallery is built upon support from both Häusler Contemporary and Mexico City’s Gallery OMR. With a focus on international and intergenerational talent, the young gallery offers fresh positions on works of abstract, concept-based, and other contemporary mediums.

For its debut at the fair the gallery will show works by Niko Abramidis &NE, Brigitte Kowanz, Haroon Mirze, and Troika presented in a special multimedia installation.

Thomas Baldischwyler. "O.T. (Prime Air 03+04", 2021. Cardboard-collage on wood, acrylic glass frame. 73 x 53 x 7 cm each. Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Conradi.

SPERLING [D07]

After initially beginning as a project space in 2014, the gallery founded by Johannes Sperling began to represent artists in 2016. For eight years, it has gained recognition for its embrace of experimental positions from young artists, often interrogating themes found in post-internet art.

The gallery will mark its return to the fair with a special shared booth with the Lima, Peru-based gallery, Crisis. Spirling will present new works by Anna Vogel, as well as ceramics by Veronika Hilger.

 

CONRADI [I05]

Elena and Heiner Conradi opened the doors of their namesake gallery in Hamburg in 2008. For nearly a decade and a half, the duo has cultivated a range of programming that spans mediums — from installation and performance to photography and painting. With a special emphasis on works of time-based art such as video works, the gallery has established itself as a premier art destination for positions on issues impacting the modern world.

Inside the halls of Areal Böhler from April 8-10, the gallery is showcasing a range of works by the artists Andrzej Steinbach, Katja Aufleger, and Thomas Baldischwyler.

 

GALERIE KARIN GUENTHER [J04]

At the end of 1999, before the world entered a new millennium, Karin Guenther marked her own beginning with the opening of her namesake gallery in Hamburg. The opening came after many years of freelance curation for different institutions and began with a show of works by artist Jeanne Faust. Now, with over two decades in the city’s art scene, it has become known for its focus on fresh positions on conceptual art.

During this year’s edition of Art Düsseldorf, it will showcase works by Michael Bauch, Edith Dekyndt, Ellen Gronemeyer, Stefan Marx, and Berta Fischer in a shared booth with Vienna-based gallery, Krobath.

C.O. Paeffgen. "Ohne Titel (Fogal)", 1991. Acryl auf Leinwand. 99,8 x 79,8 cm. Courtesy: LEVY Galerie, Hamburg & VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn.

LEVY GALERIE [J02]

A lot can happen in 50 years — especially if you’re a contemporary art gallery. Since 1970, Thomas Levy’s namesake gallery has accrued a broad range of positions on contemporary art, with pillars of Surrealism, Nouveau Réalisme, and Pop Art forming its foundation. The artists it represents include the likes of Richard Lindner, Annette Streyl, and Marc Lüders, as well as the estates of both Meret Oppenheim and Friedrich Einhoff.

This year, the gallery will show recent work from Wainer Vaccari, as well as works by acclaimed artists C.O. Paeffgen, Friedrich Einhoff, and Mel Ramos.

 

PRODUZENTENGALERIE HAMBURG [B02]

After opening its doors in 1973, the contemporary art gallery took on a leading role in Hamburg’s art scene in the 1980s. As it approaches its 50-year anniversary, the gallery has built a reputation as a vanguard for new aesthetic positions from both international and regional artists. In addition to the five exhibitions it organizes per year, the gallery also produces a regular stream of books for its represented artists.

A selection of pieces by Monika Michalko, Christoph Blawert, Dasha Shishkin, Jonas Burgert, and Bernhard Brungs will be shown at its booth during this year’s edition of Art Düsseldorf.

 

ANITA BECKERS [B01]

Initially beginning in Darmstadt in 1995, the gallery made the move to Frankfurt in 1998. Now, for over two decades, it has put a special emphasis on finding and nurturing new talent in the contemporary art scene. It is through a dialogue between young artists and contemporary positions that the gallery has established itself as a destination for contemporary takes on video and new media art.

The gallery will present a group exhibition of works by Armin Boehm, Daniel Canogar, and Kota Ezawa.

Kota Ezawa. "Visit to Hiroshima", 2020. Light box. 76 x 107 cm. Edition of 5 + 2 AP. Courtesy of Anita Beckers Galerie.

JACKY STRENZ (NEW) [A04]

Since the early 2000s, the gallery has produced both solo and group exhibitions featuring both regional and international talent. With an emphasis on painting and a focus on works of the Munich School movement, it has steadily built up a profile in Frankfurt’s contemporary art scene.

During its debut presentation at Art Düsseldorf, the gallery will present a mix of works by Lin May Saeed, Lea von Wintzingerode, Max Brand, and Markus Ebner.

 

GALERIE PARISA KIND [C04]

Since 2006, the Frankfurt-based gallery located in the city center has produced a regular rotation of solo and group exhibitions. By fostering a close personal connection to the artists she represents, Kind has built up a solid reputation as a purveyor of contemporary art — as well as a solid relationship with her husband, artist Mike Bouchet, who she met at a vernissage. The mix of regional and international artists offers fresh contemporary perspectives, and a special emphasis on U.S. artists has led the gallery to show works by such artists as Paul McCarthy.

For this edition of the fair, artists Benjamin Echevarria, Hannes Michanek, and Emilia Neumann will be represented.

 

PPC PHILIPP PFLUG CONTEMPORARY (NEW) [E07]

Established in 2014 when Pflug was just 24-years-old, the gallery began after he worked for fellow Frankfurt-based galleries Anita Beckers and Jacky Strenz, who are also exhibiting at the fair. Now, for eight years, the young collector with a love for fresh perspectives has built up a roster of fresh talent and established positions within the contemporary art scene.

For its debut at Art Düsseldorf, the gallery will showcase work by Jagoda Bednarsky, Stehn Raupach, Michael Pfrommer, and Bettina von Arnim.

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.

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