Spotlight on Art Cologne 2013

Art Cologne, occurring annually since its founding in 1967, represents 200 galleries from more than 25 countries. The oldest and longest running of its type, the art fair will tastefully display 20th and 21st century artworks, while attracting an estimated 60,000 visitors from April 19 to 22, 2013.

Josephine Meckseper, W, Gas-X, 2010, Galerie Reinhard Hauff, Stuttgart, Germany

The fair is comprised of three sectors, Galleries, New Contemporaries, and New Positions. These three areas cover established galleries, an array of galleries founded in the 21st century, and solo presentations by prominent emerging artists. Between the varied sectors, viewers are guaranteed a broad showcase of Modern Masters, Post-War, and Contemporary Art.

Louise Bourgeois, Ode à ma Mère, 1995, Galerie Boisseree, Cologne, Germany

The 2013 edition of the fair will continue to pair with New York’s New Art Dealers Alliance to present NADA Cologne, a separate independent fair which will take place in Koelnmesse, Messeplatz 1, 50679 Köln, Deutschland, alongside Art Cologne. With the increase of exhibitors at NADA this year, viewers can expect an even stronger Contemporary Art presence.

George Grosz, Selbstportrait mit Akt – Selfportrait with Nude, 1937, Galerie Henze & Ketterer & Triebold, Riehen, Switzerland

Originally referred to as Kölner Kunstmarkt, the festival was founded by the gallerists Hein Stünke and Rudolph Zwirner as an attempt to strengthen the conservative art market in West Germany. During the 1969 edition of the fair, artist Joseph Beuys (German, 1921–1986) became the first West German artist to sell a work over 100,000 deutsche mark, a sale generated by fellow West German dealer René Block.

Ernest Ludwig Kirchner, Strassenbild vor dem Friseurladen, 1926, Galerie Henze & Ketterer & Triebold, Riehen, Switzerland

Launched in the historic Gürzenich building, an area once used for traditional banquet and celebration, the gallerists’ long-term plan was to promote emerging art by younger German artists. Since their founding, Art Cologne has had an enormous impact on not just German art, but the development of the international art market as a whole.

David Reed, #625, 2011–2102, Häusler Contemporary, Zurich, Switzerland

Since 1967, the fair has introduced a younger generation of artists to the international art market, drawing buyers and collectors to the event. Viewers can look forward to participating in a historical event that has long since helped to shape a newer generation of art fairs.