Keep your friends close—and your rivaling cultural capitals closer.
The German cities of Cologne and Düsseldorf are typically pitted as competitors when it comes to everything from beer to sports. But for one magical art-filled weekend a year, the two cities unite for Düsseldorf Cologne Open Galleries, a collective opening weekend that kicks off the fall art season each September.
This year, the festive weekend brings together 46 galleries split between the two cities. Shuttles will ferry collectors, art professionals, and anyone else who is interested from one city to the other (they’re approximately 45 minutes apart).
If you happen to be in either city (or ideally both) we’ve picked 10 exhibitions that you won’t want to miss.
Pierre Knop, Too fool for school (2019). Courtesy of Choi & Lager Gallery.
Exhibition: “Pierre Knop: Feast of Fools”
When: September 6–November 3, 2019
Where: Choi & Lager Gallery, Wormserstrasse 23, Cologne
Tobias Pils, Pool (2018). Galerie Galerie Gisela Capitain.
Exhibition: “Tobias Pils: Primordial Flow”
When: September 7–October 19, 2019
Where: Galerie Gisela Capitain, St. Apern Strasse 26, Cologne
Benjamin Houlihan, Untitled (2019). Thomas Rehbein Galerie.
Exhibition: “Benjamin Houlihan: Victor Stuhl”
When: September 6–October 5, 2019
Where: Thomas Rehbein Galerie, Aachener Strasse 5, Cologne
Corinna Schnitt, Future Perfect (2015). Shot on HD video, color, sound 9 Min 16:9 Edition of 5 (still). Courtesy of Philipp von Rosen Galerie.
Exhibition: “Corinna Schnitt. Futures. Selected Works (2003–2015)“
When: September 7–October 19, 2019
Where: Philipp von Rosen Galerie, Aachener Strasse 65, Cologne
Richard Tuttle, Untitled (2019). Courtesy of Galerie Christian Lethert.
Exhibition: “Richard Tuttle: Kill Someone”
When: September 6–October 31, 2019
Where: Galerie Christian Lethert, Antwerpener Strasse 52, Cologne
Bettina Scholz, Purple Rain (detail, 2019). Courtesy of Setareh.
Exhibition: “Bettina Scholz: Drift”
When: September 6–October 12, 2019
Where: Setareh, Königsallee 27–31, Düsseldorf
Pieter Hugo, Burning Bush, Oaxaca de Juárez (2018). Courtesy of Priska Pasquer.
Exhibition: “Pieter Hugo: La Cucaracha”
When: September 6–October 31, 2019
Where: Priska Pasquer, Albertusstraße 18, Cologne
Marcel Dzama, Pussy gonna rule this world (2019). Courtesy of Sies + Höke Galerie.
Exhibition: “Marcel Dzama: Be Good Little Beuys and Dada Might Buy You a Bauhaus”
When: September 6–October 26, 2019
Where: Sies + Höke Galerie, Poststraße 2+3, Düsseldorf
Exhibition: “Bruno (Bernard of Hollywood) Bernard: Girls, Girls, Girls!!!”
When: September 6–October 26, 2019
Where: in focus Galerie, Hauptstraße 114, Cologne
Installation view of “Offerings,” 2019. Courtesy of Galerie Karsten Greve.
Exhibition: “Raúl Illarramendi: Offerings”
When: September 6–October 19, 2019
Where: Galerie Karsten Greve, Drususgasse 1-5. Cologne
DC Open runs from Friday, September 6 to Sunday, September 9, 2019.