
In the 1980s, Walter Dahn first gained recognition in Cologne as a pioneer of the “Bad” Painting movement and as a founding member of the Mülheimer Freiheit, a group of neo-expressionist artists known for their rebellious, punk-inflected attitude. During this period, Dahn’s practice centred on a critical reassessment of painting as a medium. Incorporating references to contemporary music and popular culture, his works evoke a broad array of associations, prompting existential and historical questions that aim at deconstructing the visual ideologies of everyday life. Sprüth Magers is pleased to present a survey exhibition of Dahn’s work on the occasion of Berlin Art Week, marking the first show since his passing in 2024.
The notion that art is nothing less than a model for freedom, is again apparent in Walter Dahn’s screen prints from 2014, for which he uses silk and emulsion paint. The found imagery, textual fragments and slogans which these works are based on, often appear vaguely familiar to the viewer.




Sprüth Magers has expanded from its roots in Cologne (Germany) to become an international gallery dedicated to exhibiting the very best in groundbreaking modern and contemporary art. With galleries located in Berlin Mitte, London’s Mayfair and the Miracle Mile in Los Angeles–as well as an office in Cologne and an outpost in Hong Kong–Sprüth Magers retains close ties with the studios and communities of the German and American artists who form the core of its roster.

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