art KARLSRUHE solemnly started into 20th anniversary

The preview, which as in the previous year took place one day before the official opening of the international art fair, offered the public an exclusive foretaste of what can be discovered in the four halls of Messe Karlsruhe until Sunday (May 7). Until then, 207 galleries from 15 countries will be showing the diversity of art from a period spanning 120 years on 35,000 square meters - starting with classical modernism and extending to brand-new works of contemporary art.

Successful concept turns 20

Not only 180 one-artist shows but also 26 sculpture spaces enrich this year's fair events in the four light-flooded halls. Both program items have been an integral part of art KARLSRUHE year after year since the premiere in 2004 and have been filled with new life on the occasion of the 20th edition. "Anyone who looks around the halls will notice: The galleries have really brought the best of the best to Karlsruhe to celebrate our fair anniversary," confessed founding curator Ewald Karl Schrade.

On the occasion of his last fair in his function as curator, Schrade was invited by Messe Karlsruhe to present the traditional special show in Hall 1 with works from his collection. On around 400 square meters, visitors can expect to see paintings by Cornelia Schleime, Karl Hubbuch, Erich Heckel, Walter Stöhrer and Eleonore Frey-Hanken, among others.

As a gallery owner, Schrade also attaches great importance to the three-dimensional, which is why it is also strongly represented in his collection. Thus, the sculpture "Wonne bi" by Dietrich Klinge is enthroned in the middle of the exhibition space, not far from it is a meter-long pine cone by Stefan Strumbel or the "Trash Man No. 129" by HA Schult, which was made from countless beverage cans. In the immediate vicinity of the special show is the Museum Mile and the Forum Karlsruhe, where Karlsruhe's cultural institutions present themselves.

From art market newcomers to long-time collectors

In four halls and a sculpture garden - sponsored by the Vollack Group - art KARLSRUHE 2023 offers a profitable platform for all friends of art. Different styles and epochs find each other as well as different price ranges. From works under 100 euros, the price range extends into the millions.

For example, at the booth of the Samuelis Baumgarte Gallery (Bielefeld), the nail painting "White Field" from 1987 is for sale for a price of 1.485 million euros. "We are back at art KARLSRUHE after ten years. We have important items from our gallery program with us, quite a few of which are at museum level. We are very excited about the fair and look forward to meeting collectors from the region," says Alexander Baumgarte.

Positive initial balance at the galleries

Among the exhibitors, the joy about the start of the 20th art KARLSRUHE is great. "This is our 13th time at art KARLSRUHE and we really like the fair. It is unique - from our point of view, one of the best art fairs in Germany," says Jakub Gildens of Gilden's Art London.

At Die Galerie from Frankfurt, the mood at the preview is also good. "We've been at art KARLSRUHE for ten years - one of the fairs we do every year, along with Cologne, Miami, London, Seoul and Paris," says gallery owner Peter Femfert.

"I feel anticipation for the next few days, to be able to give my young artists the space to present their work - and they are happy to be there. The hall situation brings a good mood, which is also reflected in the atmosphere: art KARLSRUHE is very nice," said Monica Ruppert of Galerie Ruppert.

Good sales were achieved by Galerie Ludorff in Hall 3: "The first day of the fair was a complete success. In addition to many interesting conversations and new contacts, we were also able to record our first sales." Already at the preview, among others, the work "Heitere Bewegung auf Rosa" by Willi Baumeister could be sold for 95,000 euros. Works by Georg Meistermann, Erich Heckel and Christopher Lehmpfuhl - all in the five-figure price range - also found satisfied buyers right at the start. The most expensive work in the gallery's program this year, "Paraphrase," was by Lovis Corinth and sold for 1.25 million.

The Supper Gallery (Baden-Baden), which has been a loyal exhibitor at art KARLSRUHE for 20 years, also recorded good sales. "As an exhibitor from the very beginning, art KARLSRUHE offered me a good platform, especially at the beginning, to gain a foothold in the art business, to network and to present our art. This year, too, this impression is proving true: we were already able to sell several works of art at the preview, including one by Monika Thiele," says Dirk Supper.