BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors

The Unconventional City of Art

In Berlin, it is still possible to find undiscovered spaces with provisional charm. An ever-popular trend: converting former factory buildings into exciting locations for art. In April 2017, Reinbeckhallen opened its doors in the city’s southeastern district of Oberschöneweide—in a former transformer factory featuring 5 000 square meters of space for exhibitions, workshops, and artist studios. The German and Swiss couple Burkhard Varnholt and Salome Grisard run the Kindl – Zentrum für zeitgenössische Kunst inside a former brewery in Neukölln. A pulsating international art scene gathers at openings in the galleries of Mitte, Tiergarten, Charlottenburg, or Kreuzberg, where the architectural dimensions also make more of an impression than in other locations around Germany: König Galerie presents exhibitions in the roughly 800-square-meter space of a former church, Sprüth Magers occupies a former dance hall, and Esther Schipper the old Der Tagesspiegel printing plant. The Martin-Gropius-Bau always attracts visitors with prestigious exhibitions of artists like Ed Atkins or Philippe Parreno. And C/O Berlin dedicates exhibitions to world famous photographers such as Sebastião Salgado or Irving Penn in the former Amerika Haus, just across from the Bahnhof Zoo train station. Since 1998, the Berlin Biennale has instigated contemporary discourse with new artistic positions. But new impulses can always be found: almost every evening, art enthusiasts can take part in intellectually stimulating events—artist talks, performances, or video screenings. And the art market? Gallery Weekend, which takes place around May 1, attracts hundreds of international collectors to the city. Via VIP shuttle or bike, visitors can hit about fifty galleries. At the start of the fall art season, in September, there’s Art Berlin, the centerpiece of Berlin Art Week, which every year offers an explosive array of openings, performances, and talks. This much is clear: a regular visit to Berlin is mandatory for all art fans.

Berlin (26)

Johann König

Messe in St. Agnes

Juliet Kothe and Julia Rust

Initiators of Collection Night, Berlin

Contemporary Fine Arts – Berlin, Germany

From West to East and Back Again: a Berlin Institution That’s Made Its Mark

Peres Projects – Berlin, Germany

Bridging the Gap Between Los Angeles and Berlin

Kraupa-Tuskany Zeidler – Berlin, Germany

One of the most cutting-edge galleries in Berlin

Initiating Dialogues

Sammlung Hoffmann – Berlin, Germany

Conversation Pieces

KUNSTSAELE Berlin – Berlin, Germany

Christian & Karen Boros

Sammlung Boros – Berlin, Germany

Time Stamps

Julia Stoschek Collection – Berlin, Germany

Present Pasts

The Feuerle Collection – Berlin, Germany

Shine On

Wurlitzer – Berlin-Pied-à-Terre Collection – Berlin, Germany

Conceptual Authenticity

Sammlung Barbara und Axel Haubrok - haubrok projects - Berlin, Germany

Timo Miettinen

Salon Dahlmann – Berlin, Germany

Désiré Feuerle

The Feuerle Collection – Berlin, Germany

Gudrun & Bernd Wurlitzer

Wurlitzer Pied A Terre Collection – Berlin, Germany

Pétur Arason

Safn – Berlin, Germany / Reykjavík, Iceland

Thomas Olbricht

ME Collectors Room Berlin/Stiftung Olbricht – Berlin, Germany

Joëlle and Eric Romba

Rocca Stiftung – Berlin, Germany

Ivo Wessel

Sammlung Ivo Wessel - Berlin, Germany

Maike Cruse

2020 Gallery Weekend Berlin

Sammlung Wemhöner

A spontaneous exhibition set up in the now empty ballroom, before opening in 2023 as the collection's new home

Gallery Weekend Berlin 2022

THE FAIREST

Interview with Georgie Pope and Eleonora Sutter, Co-founders

INGRID AND THOMAS JOCHHEIM

Ingrid and Thomas Jochheim Collection – Berlin, Germany

MATTHIAS ARNDT

Collector behind the ARNDT Collection

Wilhelmina Jewell Strong - Sparks

Founder of BiTHOUSE Projects - BAAR Art Journey