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.
Exhibition: “Ernst Wilhelm Nay” and “Jakob Mattner: Second Planet”
When: April 30 – June 26, 2021
Where: Galerie Michael Haas, Niebuhrstraße 5, 10629, Berlin
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 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, 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 Straße 83, 10785, Berlin
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, Bleibtreustraße 45 and in the Window Gallery at Goethestraße 2/3, Berlin
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, Charlottenstraße 24, Berlin
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.
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.
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.
Exhibition: “Tony Cragg: Sculptures”
When: March 20 – May 22, 2021
Where: Buchmann Galerie, Charlottenstraße 13, Berlin
Susan Philipsz, Slow Fresh Fount (2021). Courtesy the artist and Konrad Fischer Galerie, Düsseldorf/Berlin.
Exhibition: “Susan Philipsz: Slow Fresh Fount”
When: May 1 – July 17, 2021
Where: Konrad Fischer Galerie, Neue Grünstraße 12, 10179, 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