Unmissable Exhibitions in Berlin’s 2024 Art Scene
Berlin’s art world is gearing up for an exhilarating year in 2024. Following a year of captivating exhibitions and festivals that drew massive crowds and sparked vibrant discussions, this year promises to be just as thrilling.
From the reopening of the Rieckhallen to an exploration of postcolonialism in Nordic countries, alongside retrospectives on Josephine Baker and Helmut Newton, here’s a preview of the major exhibitions and art events to look forward to in 2024.
Valie Export The Austrian artist Valie Export, who shocked 1960s Viennese society with her provocative performances, is celebrated in a retrospective at CO Berlin. Produced in collaboration with ALBERTINA, Vienna, the exhibition honors Export as one of the most significant artists of the 20th century. It features a wide range of multimedia works, including performance art and film, spanning from the 1960s through 2009, offering a deep dive into the life and legacy of this complex and influential figure.
Josephine Baker: Icon in Motion Josephine Baker, the iconic 1920s performer, is the focus of an exhibition at Neue Nationalgalerie. Known for her bold and expressive dance performances, Baker captivated audiences across New York, Paris, and Berlin. As a Black woman, she also faced racism, exoticism, and sexualization throughout her career. This exhibition highlights her artistic journey, strategies for success, and her lasting impact on contemporary artists.
Keep a Stiff Upper Lip! Gundula Schulze Eldowy and Robert Frank This exhibition at the Akademie der Künste (AdK) explores the artistic connection between Gundula Schulze Eldowy and Robert Frank, who met in East Berlin in 1985. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall, Frank encouraged Schulze Eldowy to move to New York, where her photography evolved into a more poetic visual language. The exhibition features around 230 works, along with films, letters, and diaries, creating a dialogue between the two artists.
Nancy Holt: Circles of Light Gropius Bau presents the most comprehensive exhibition of Nancy Holt’s work in Germany to date. A pioneer of “land art,” Holt is known for her monumental installations, such as the famous Sun Tunnels, which creatively merge nature, landscape, and light. This exhibition includes film, video, photography, sound works, sculptures, and expansive installations, providing a thorough overview of her innovative career.
Caspar David Friedrich: Infinite Landscapes To celebrate the 250th birthday of Caspar David Friedrich, the most important painter of German Romanticism, the Alte Nationalgalerie will host a major exhibition featuring around 60 paintings and 50 drawings. This includes Friedrich’s famous Arctic Sea and will emphasize the role the Nationalgalerie played in reviving interest in this iconic artist during the early 20th century.
Modigliani: Modern Looks The Museum Barberini in Potsdam will host the first German retrospective on Amedeo Modigliani since 2009. This exhibition explores Modigliani’s unique approach to the human form, characterized by elongated figures and striking portraits. The works are displayed in dialogue with pieces by artists such as Gustav Klimt and Paula Modersohn-Becker, offering new perspectives on his influence beyond Paris.
Kader Attia At the Berlinische Galerie, Kader Attia’s work on postcolonialism, cultural identity, and collective memory takes center stage. The exhibition will feature two major works, J’accuse and The Object’s Interlacing, exploring themes of war, colonialism, and repatriation. The exhibition will also include works by legendary Dada artist Hannah Höch.
Gallery Weekend Berlin 2024 Celebrating its 20th year, Gallery Weekend Berlin is a must-see event in the city’s cultural calendar. Led by Antonia Ruder for the first time, around 50 galleries will host exhibitions by both emerging and established artists. This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy art for free, attend glitzy events, and indulge in a bit of Vernissage hopping.
Marianna Simnett: Winner Commissioned for the UEFA EURO 2024 tournament’s art and culture program, Marianna Simnett’s multichannel film installation Winner explores football’s power dynamics, crowd psychology, and performance pressures. The hallucinatory film extends into the exhibition space and museum garden, creating an immersive experience for visitors.
Berlin, Berlin! To mark the 20th anniversary of the Helmut Newton Foundation, the Museum of Photography will host a group exhibition titled Berlin, Berlin!, celebrating Newton’s connection to his hometown. The exhibition will showcase Newton’s works from the 1930s to the 2000s, alongside other images of Berlin that inspired him, with contributions from contemporary artists.
Pia Arke: Arctic Hysteria KW Institute for Contemporary Art will present Arctic Hysteria, the first exhibition of Pia Arke’s work outside of Greenland and the Nordic countries. Arke, a Greenlandic Danish artist, was a pioneer in decolonial discourse. The exhibition features photographic, sculptural, performative, and literary works that explore the colonial relationship between Greenland and Denmark.
Frans Hals This comprehensive exhibition at the Gemäldegalerie showcases around 70 works by Frans Hals, one of the most respected Dutch painters of the 17th century. Known for his loose brushwork and lively compositions, Hals influenced many modernists and was a key figure in the development of realist and impressionist art.
13th Berlin Art Week Berlin Art Week returns for its 13th edition, offering five days of exhibitions, panel discussions, and events across the city. From newcomers to established galleries, hundreds of institutions will open their doors, providing a vibrant snapshot of Berlin’s thriving art scene.
Mark Bradford The reopening of the Rieckhallen will be marked by the first solo exhibition in Germany by American artist Mark Bradford. Known for his use of unconventional materials to explore social issues, Bradford’s work will be displayed alongside the expanded collection of “National Gallery: A Collection for the 21st Century,” tracing Berlin’s art scene from the building of the Wall to the present.
