Must-See Art Guide: Berlin

Berlin Gallery Weekend is making its triumphant return with 49 galleries opening their doors this Friday to Sunday.

Christian Boltanski, Crépuscule (1996). Courtesy of ADAGP, Paris.

Berlin Gallery Weekend, the city’s beloved celebration of arts and culture, is making a triumphant return this weekend. After downsizing the event last spring, 49 galleries will open their doors this weekend to show works by emerging and established artists alike (most galleries are participating from Friday, April 30, to Sunday, May 2).

So, what’s on our itinerary? Our first stop might have to be at Galerie Thomas Schulte, which is presenting a show of works by Rebecca Horn. Thirty years ago, the gallery opened its very first show with an installation by Horn. In a nod to that history, two pivotal installations by the artist, Bee’s Planetary Map (1998) and Der Turm der Namenlosen (1994), will be presented alongside new work.

We’ll also be sure to head to Esther Schipper Gallery, wich is presenting “L’Invitation au voyage,” a dazzling group exhibition that explores the idea of traveling in one’s imagination, with works by Paula Rego, Leiko Ikemura, and Shahzia Sikander, among others. 

Another must see is Sweetwater’s presentation of Tennessee-born artist Kayode Ojo’s at-first-glance glamorous sculptural installations made of knock-offs.

Restriction measures remain in place—some galleries are by appointment only with a negative same-day rapid test, so check before you go.

Below, we’ve put together a list of shows we don’t think will disappoint to get you started.

 

Ernst Wilhelm Nay, Menschen in den Lofoten (1938). Photograph by Lea Gryze.

Ernst Wilhelm Nay, Menschen in den Lofoten (1938). Photograph by Lea Gryze.

Exhibition: “Ernst Wilhelm Nay” and “Jakob Mattner: Second Planet
When: April 30 – June 26, 2021
Where: Galerie Michael Haas, NiebuhrstraĂźe 5, 10629, Berlin

 

Paula Rego, Caritas (1993). Courtesy of the artist.

Paula Rego, Caritas (1993). Courtesy of the artist.

Exhibition: “L’Invitation au Voyage”
When: April 28 – June 27, 2021
Where: Esther Schipper, Potsdamer Strasse 81E D-10785, Berlin

Ann Edholm <i>Nacht-und-Nacht III</i> (2021). Courtesy the artist and Galerie Nordenhake Berlin/Stockholm/Mexico City, Photo: Carl-Henrik Tillberg

Ann Edholm Nacht-und-Nacht III (2021). Courtesy the artist and Galerie Nordenhake Berlin/Stockholm/Mexico City, Photo: Carl-Henrik Tillberg

Exhibition: “Ann Edholm: The Green of the Distant Meadow
When: April 30 – May 30, 2021
Where: Galerie Nordenhake, Lindenstrasse 34, Berlin

Adrian Ghenie, <i>The Flirt</I> (2021), Courtesy of the artist.

Adrian Ghenie, The Flirt (2021), Courtesy of the artist.

Exhibition: “Adrian Ghenie: We had Everything Before Us”
When: May 1 – July 10, 2021
Where: Galerie Judin, Potsdamer StraĂźe 83, 10785, Berlin

 

Raymond Hains, Saffa (1971). Courtesy of the Estate of Raymond Hains. Copyright Adagp, Paris / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn. 

Raymond Hains, Saffa (1971). Courtesy of the Estate of Raymond Hains. Copyright Adagp, Paris / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn.

Exhibition: “Raymond Hains”
When: April 30–June 30, 2021
Where: Galerie Max Hetzler, BleibtreustraĂźe 45 and in the Window Gallery at GoethestraĂźe 2/3, Berlin

 

Installation view of “Rebecca Horn: Bees Planetary Map” as presented in 1998. 

Installation view of “Rebecca Horn: Bees Planetary Map” as presented in 1998. Courtesy die Künstlerin und Galerie Thomas Schulte

Exhibition: “Rebecca Horn: Bee’s Planetary Map”
When: April 28 – June 26, 2021
Where: Galerie Thomas Schulte, CharlottenstraĂźe 24, Berlin

 

Installation view of “Ashley Hans Scheirl: Neoliberal Surrealist” at Galerie Crone, Vienna, 2019. Photograph by Matthias Bildstein.

Installation view of “Ashley Hans Scheirl: Neoliberal Surrealist” at Galerie Crone, Vienna, 2019. Photograph by Matthias Bildstein.

Exhibition: “Ashley Hans Scheirl: Currencies of De*Capital Delirium”
When: April 28 – June 18, 2021
Where: Galerie Crone, Fasanenstraße 29, 10719, Berlin

 

Kayode Ojo, L’Amant Double (Vienna) (2020). Courtesy of the artist and Sweetwater. 

Kayode Ojo, L’Amant Double (Vienna) (2020). Courtesy of the artist and Sweetwater.

Exhibition: “Kayode Ojo: Call It What You Want”
When: April 30 – June 19, 2021
Where: Sweetwater, Leipziger Str. 56/58, 10117, Berlin

 

 Paolo Salvador, Pablo y el Jaguar (2021). Courtesy Peres Projects, Berlin. Photographed by Matthias Kolb.

Paolo Salvador, Pablo y el Jaguar (2021). Courtesy Peres Projects, Berlin. Photographed by Matthias Kolb.

Exhibition: “Paolo Salvador: Resonancias Oníricas (Dream Resonances)”
When: April 30 – June 4, 2021
Where: Peres Projects, Karl-Marx-Allee 82, 10243, Berlin

 

Tony Cragg, Manipulations (2017). Courtesy of the artist and Buchmann Galerie. Photograph by Michael Richter.

Tony Cragg, Manipulations (2017). Courtesy of the artist and Buchmann Galerie. Photograph by Michael Richter.

Exhibition: “Tony Cragg: Sculptures”
When: March 20 – May 22, 2021
Where: Buchmann Galerie, CharlottenstraĂźe 13, Berlin

 

Susan Philipsz, Slow Fresh Fount (2021). Courtesy the artist and Konrad Fischer Galerie, DĂĽsseldorf/Berlin.

Susan Philipsz, Slow Fresh Fount (2021). Courtesy the artist and Konrad Fischer Galerie, DĂĽsseldorf/Berlin.

Exhibition: “Susan Philipsz: Slow Fresh Fount”
When: May 1 – July 17, 2021
Where: Konrad Fischer Galerie, Neue GrĂĽnstraĂźe 12, 10179, Berlin

 

Cabrita, The Winter Flowers #1 (2020). Courtesy of the artist and KEWENIG Berlin. 

Cabrita, The Winter Flowers #1 (2020). Courtesy of the artist and Kewenig Galerie Berlin.

Exhibition: “Christian Boltanski: Danach” and “Cabrita: I (Still) Love the Smell of Oil Color in the Morning”
When: April 28 – June 23, 2021
Where: Kewenig Galerie (Boltanski) Brüderstraße 10, 10178 Berlin and Kewenig Warehouse (Cabrita), Wilhelmshavener Str. 7, 10551 Berlin


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