The Feminine in Art
The Klöcker Collection as a Special Exhibition at art KARLSRUHE 2022
The traditional special show at the upcoming art KARLSRUHE – International Fair for Classic Modern and Contemporary Art is all about femininity. Under the title “Women: Klöcker Collection”, the collector couple Maria Lucia and Ingo Klöcker will display a representative selection from their private collection of artistic portrayals of women. Initially scheduled for presentation in 2021 but delayed due to the pandemic, the Klöcker Collection will soon receive the appreciation it deserves at the 19th edition of art KARLSRUHE. The artworks will be displayed on approximately 300 square metres of floor space in the redesigned “Art & Communication” hall from 17 to 20 February 2021.
Note [as of January 11, 2022] - Due to Corona, art KARLSRUHE will take place in a summer edition this year. The new fair date is July 07-10, 2022.
The collection spans a broad spectrum of artistic positions
Maria Lucia and Ingo Klöcker from Bad Homburg, both of whom hold doctorates in law, began acquiring art in the late 1980s. From the very beginning, they focused their acquisitions on portrayals of women in post-war and contemporary art. Whether painted or sculpted by female or male artists, the feminine in art accordingly runs through the entire collection like a connective thread. This collector couple has never regarded art primarily as a financial investment. “First and foremost, the artworks must touch us personally, convince us, inspire us in our private lives and spark discussions”, says Maria Lucia Klöcker. Compiled over the past four decades, the Klöcker Collection includes works by lesser-known artists as well as by renowned painters and sculptors. The spectrum of artistic positions is both international and diverse, with artists ranging from Stephan Balkenhol, Erich Fischl, Franz Gertsch, Alex Katz and Thomas Schütte to Erich Kissing, Wolfgang Mattheuer, Sigmar Polke, Gerhard Richter and Arno Rink. The roster naturally also includes numerous female painters, photographers and sculptors, for example, Aleah Chapin, Leiko Ikemura, Cornelia Schleime, Kiki Smith and Nancy Spero.
Jointly cultivating their love of art
In choosing artworks for their collection, the Klöckers are primarily interested in works that reveal artistic expertise. High-quality craftsmanship is therefore clearly evident throughout this diverse and stylistically broad range of paintings and sculptures. “Virtuosic mastery of artistic techniques is an important criterion for inclusion in our collection”, Ingo Klöcker explains. The two collectors from Bad Homburg also place great importance on the quest for artistic positions that transcend time. “Beyond the constantly changing tastes in the world of art collecting, the supratemporal aspect was among our criteria right from the start.”
The Klöckers’ shared love of art is equally important. Both collectors had eagerly drawn and painted as teenagers before they began discovering the art world as a duo during their student years. The special show at art KARLSRUHE 2022 should therefore also be understood as a biographical reflection of this collector couple. The Klöcker Collection accordingly offers in-depth insights into the passion and commitment of private collecting. It thus fits perfectly with previous renowned special exhibitions at art KARLSRUHE such as Frieder Burda (2018), Peter C. Ruppert (2019) and Hans-Peter Haas (2020).
Another highlight: special show of graphic prints
The Klöcker Collection is not the only highlight in redesigned Hall 3. In addition to the Museum Mile and the ARTIMA art meeting, the hall also houses the annual special show of graphic prints, which displays graphic artworks from the programmes of the exhibiting galleries. The graphic print, which is also appreciated as an entry medium for newer collectors, has served many established collectors as a medium for approaching art. The special show of graphic prints at art KARLSRUHE offers opportunities to gain entry into the passion of collecting or to augment an existing art collection with high-calibre original prints. The programme is rounded out by the award ceremony and the accompanying special exhibition of the Hans Platschek Foundation, which displays artworks by the annual award winner as well as works by Hans Platschek curated by the year’s winner.
About the fair
art KARLSRUHE – International Fair for Classic Modern and Contemporary Art spans 120 years of art history. Galleries from Germany and abroad present the full bandwidth of the art market – from the complete spectrum of 20th-century art to new works fresh from the artists’ studios. A special and unique selling point in the airy, light-flooded exhibition halls is the unique arrangement of galleries in interplay with generously proportioned Sculpture Areas and One-Artist-Shows focusing on the work of individual artists. The national and international appeal of art KARLSRUHE attracts both established collectors and art-market newcomers. Art KARLSRUHE is firmly anchored in the cultural city of Karlsruhe: in conjunction with renowned museums and cultural institutions in the city of Karlsruhe and its surrounding region, art KARLSRUHE creates a very special art experience.
