Berlin
Art Guide

Berlin is a contemporary art hub with an abundance of galleries scattered throughout the city. Whether you want to discover contemporary art by established artists or emerging talents, below are some of the best galleries from Berlin's vibrant art scene.

Berlin's bustling central district, Mitte, is the city's cultural heart. Home to Museum Island, a complex of five historic art museums (Altes Museum, Neues Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, Bode Museum, and Pergamon Museum), it is packed with prominent commercial galleries.

Sprüth Magers presents established international names such as Cindy Sherman, Barbara Kruger, John Baldessari, and Cao Fei. Besides its location on Oranienburger Straße, the gallery is sited in London, Los Angeles, and New York.

Among the first galleries to open following German reunification, Galerie Thomas Schulte presents international conceptual art within the 19th-century landmark, Tuteur House. Across the river, Galerie EIGEN + ART offers an intimate and engaging space for cutting-edge contemporary German artists such as Ricarda Roggan and Kai Schiemenz.

From the renovated Brutalist church of St. Agnes (and an outpost in Seoul), KÖNIG GALERIE presents an international roster of emerging and established artists, including Monira Al Qadiri, Chiharu Shiota, Erwin Wurm, Alicja Kwade, and Bernar Venet.

Galeria Plan B, established by artists Mihai Pop and Adrian Ghenie in Cluj, Romania in 2005, has been based in Berlin since 2008. The gallery showcases Romanian contemporary artists from its recently inaugurated location, The Haus, a palatial Soviet-era building.

Zilberman Gallery, founded in Istanbul, presents an international selection of artists across its two Berlin spaces in the Charlottenburg district. Nearby, Galerie Buchholz and Galerie Albrecht represent European and Asian contemporary artists such as Peter Fischli and Wolfgang Tillmans, and Huang Yuan Qing and Gerhard Lang, respectively.

Berlin is a vibrant and innovative location in the contemporary art world, offering a wide variety of art exhibitions in the city's renowned galleries and museums. A centre for innovation across the fine arts and applied arts sectors, Berlin has a vast range of art exhibitions, art fairs and festivals celebrating the city's rich artistic culture.

Since the Berlin Wall's fall, the city's edgy, non-conformist, contemporary art scene has become a mecca of sorts for international artists. Galleries and institutions offer vibrant programmes, exhibiting major international artists and emerging local talent alike.

Home to Universität der Künste Berlin (Berlin University of the Arts), one of Europe's largest art schools, Berlin also houses numerous independent art collectives and non-profits that utilise its forgotten and disused spaces.

Berlin boasts several galleries and institutions, including the National Gallery and Staatliche Museen Zu Berlin, which host works by local and international artists. Other notable art spaces include Wien Museum, Berlinische Galerie, Museum Barberini, Fotografiska Berlin, and the Neue Nationalgalerie.

Best Exhibitions to See in Berlin

With its internationally renowned art spaces, Berlin is home to numerous art exhibitions showcasing international and Berlin artists. The city also hosts some annual art festivals, attracting visitors from around the globe. One of the highlights of Berlin's art fair season is Gallery Weekend Berlin, held every April. Art lovers can view contemporary artworks and performances and explore the city's many art museum locations. Berlin Art Week, which takes place in September, features art fairs and exhibitions from institutions in various locations around the city.

Bringing Together the Leading Art in Berlin

Discover the profiles of our Member Galleries, enabling art enthusiasts to select their preferred gallery for current or future exhibitions. These art exhibitions include graphic works, abstract paintings, photographs, prints, sculptures and film installations. Read each special exhibition's profile to discover more about the artist, the exhibition space and its opening times.

In Berlin, one can find a diverse range of art exhibitions catering to various interests, be it a Cold War era painter, a photo installation documenting secession movements, or a painting exhibition from a different historical period.

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Berlin is home to renowned contemporary institutions that showcase cutting-edge art from around the world.

Hamburger Bahnhof, which repurposed Berlin's last 19th-century railway station, presents contemporary art since the 1960s, from Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart's collection.

Berlinische Galerie, minutes from the Jewish Museum, showcases modern art, photography, and architecture from Berlin dating back to the 1870s. The museum is a necessary stop for those interested in exploring local history and culture.

KW Institute for Contemporary Art on Auguststraße street, Mitte, is dedicated to showcasing innovative and experimental art. Having inaugurated the Berlin Biennale in 1998, the venue has welcomed the bi-annual exhibition since and other art events year-round.

Inside the Kronprinzenpalais garden, Schinkel Pavillon provides a unique octagonal space to showcase contemporary art to the public. Gropius Bau, among the continent's most-recognised exhibition halls, presents leading contemporary art and archaeological exhibitions.

Berlin is also home to non-profits such as Boros Foundation, located in a former bunker, and Julia Stoschek Foundation in the Friedrichstadt neighbourhood, which specialises in time-based art since the 1960s, including audio and video works.

Since 2010, Ocula Magazine has interviewed some of Berlin's most significant artists including Monira Al Qadiri, Olafur Eliasson, Hito Steyerl, and Eurasian collective Slavs and Tatars. Ocula Magazine has also published features of artists such as Alicja Kwade and Katharina Grosse.

Led by Ocula's founder Simon Fisher, Ocula Advisory assists new and established collectors in growing and managing their collections.

With 40+ years of combined experience and extensive relationships with galleries, auction houses, art dealers, and collectors, Ocula Advisory has exceptional knowledge of modern and contemporary art, as well as market trends.

Follow Advisory Picks, Perspectives, and Selections for must-see art in Berlin.

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Berlin has propelled the careers of many important artists, with many calling it home. Artists to watch out for include Olafur Eliasson, known for immersive installations that often explore themes of nature, perception, and sustainability.

Alicja Kwade's sculptures and installations challenge our perception of time, space, and reality, while Isa Genzken's work across sculpture, installation, and photography explores the relationship between architecture, consumer culture, and identity.

Wolfgang Tillmans, known for his experimental approach to image-making, often blurs the lines between documentary and fine-art photography.

Sign up to My Ocula to follow artists and galleries, save artworks to your favourites, and be informed when new artworks become available.

Berlin houses a wealth of impressive artworks, from large-scale public installations to intimate gallery shows. Below are some noteworthy sites and pieces to seek out.

The East Side Gallery, a 1.3-kilometre stretch of the Berlin Wall covered in murals by artists from around the world, is a must-visit for anyone interested in the city's history and art.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe designed by Peter Eisenman is a powerful and thought-provoking monument to Holocaust victims in central Berlin, featuring an accompanying underground exhibition room.

Permanently loaned to Neue Nationalgalerie, Gerhard Richter's 'Birkenau' paintings (2014) explore these themes within gallery walls. The four expansive paintings are inspired by four photographs taken at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp.