From 6 to 9 November 2025, the 58th edition of ART COLOGNE will open its doors – the world’s oldest art fair and still one of the most important meeting points for gallerists, collectors, and art enthusiasts. Director Daniel Hug looks ahead with optimism: more young galleries, returning international exhibitors, and a strong curatorial program.

Daniel Hug, Director ART COLOGNE: “In an increasingly digital world, meeting art - and the people behind it - in person remains irreplaceable. ART COLOGNE is the perfect place for that,” says Hug. For him, an art fair is not only about selling art but about encounters - with the works, the gallerists, collectors, and curators. “That’s the foundation of a great art fair – and it always will be.”

The NEUMARKT section will see a strong increase in young galleries – proof that ART COLOGNE remains relevant for a new generation of international artists. Alongside postwar classics, new collaborations in the COLLABORATIONS sector, and special exhibitions such as Klangwelten (LBBW) or Charlotte Zander, the fair continues to be a space for exchange, inspiration, and dialogue.

This year, more galleries from Spain will participate, including Galería F2 from Madrid and Galería Fermay from Palma. The COLLABORATIONS sector will feature a Mallorcan joint booth by Galería Baró, LaBibi + Reus, and Xavier Fiol, organized by the island’s gallery association Art Palma Contemporani – a partner of the new ART COLOGNE PALMA MALLORCA, debuting in April 2026.

Sprüth Magers continues its long-standing presence at ART COLOGNE with a group presentation reflecting both its deep Rhineland roots and global reach. The focus lies on artists who emerged from the region’s vibrant scene, including the Düsseldorf School of Photography with Bernd & Hilla Becher, Thomas Ruff, and Andreas Gursky. Gursky’s new work Thyssenkrupp, Duisburg will be shown alongside a large-scale photograph by Jean-Luc Mylayne. The presentation also includes works by George Condo – who had his first solo show with Monika Sprüth in Cologne in 1984 and is currently featured at the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris – as well as Louise Lawler, Gala Porras-Kim, Hyun-Sook Song, Kara Walker, and John Bock, whose works are currently on view at Haus Mödrath near Cologne.

Our friends from Berlin-based DISTANZ Verlag are also presenting an exciting selection of art books. The publisher’s program explores new currents in contemporary art, addressing themes such as gender and queer theory, collectivity, sustainability, climate change, and artificial intelligence.

In front of the South Entrance, a bronze sculpture by Stefan Strumbel, presented by Ruttkowski;68, will welcome visitors. The art associations of North Rhine-Westphalia will again host a collective stand, showcasing their annual editions.

Just a few streets away from the fairgrounds and the city’s galleries lies Maison Marsil - a boutique hotel that has, for years, hosted artists, curators, and collectors during ART COLOGNE. The heritage-listed building, with its Mediterranean courtyard and urban charm, has become a creative meeting point – a place where conversations about art often continue long into the night. During ART COLOGNE week, the Maison Marsil team looks forward to welcoming familiar faces from the international art scene – and to meeting new guests who will discover the hotel as an inspiring retreat between the fair, the galleries, and Cologne’s vibrant cultural heart.

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31.10.2025 show complete article

With more than 2.5 million visitors worldwide, “AMAZÔNIA - Photographs by Sebastião Salgado” ranks among the most successful exhibitions of the renowned Brazilian photographer. From 29 October 2025 to 15 March 2026, the immersive show celebrates its German premiere at the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum in Cologne.

Over a period of seven years, Sebastião Salgado traveled through the Amazon rainforest – the largest in the world – capturing both its breathtaking beauty and its fragility in the face of deforestation, exploitation, and climate change. The exhibition was curated by Lélia Wanick Salgado, his long-time partner and co-founder of the Instituto Terra, a reforestation initiative in Brazil. Salgado often says that reforesting the land healed not only nature, but also himself - a deeply personal and artistic counterpoint to his documentary work on conflict, poverty, and destruction. “We need to rebuild the connection between humans and nature. The forest is not just trees - it is life, water, balance, and hope.” - Sebastião Salgado

Featuring around 200 black-and-white photographs, AMAZÔNIA reveals the stunning diversity of the region – from vast, mist-covered landscapes to the faces and daily lives of Indigenous communities who have protected this delicate ecosystem for centuries. Accompanied by an original soundtrack by Jean-Michel Jarre, the exhibition creates a multisensory experience that invites visitors to see, hear, and feel the pulse of the Amazon.

Just steps away from the museum lies MAISON MARSIL, a boutique hotel that shares a similar spirit of design, culture, and authenticity. Situated between the Belgian Quarter and the museum district, the historic townhouse with its Mediterranean courtyard attracts artists, travelers, and creatives from around the world – people who, like Salgado, have a deep appreciation for imagery, atmosphere, and storytelling.

A stay at Maison Marsil offers the perfect continuation of the AMAZÔNIA experience – a place to unwind, reflect, and stay connected to art, space, and inspiration, right in the cultural heart of Cologne.

“We are proud to bring this exceptional exhibition to Cologne in 2025, marking the 150th anniversary of Zurich Group Germany,” says Dr. Carsten Schildknecht, CEO of Zurich Group Germany, one of the exhibition’s main sponsors. “Our partnership with Sebastião Salgado and Instituto Terra reflects our understanding of sustainability. AMAZÔNIA invites visitors to reflect on the fragile balance between humanity and nature and to take action toward a more sustainable future.”

“With the AMAZÔNIA exhibition, we want to create a space in which Indigenous knowledge systems are recognized as equal perspectives in the pursuit of planetary justice. In particular, we wish to highlight the essential yet often little-known role of women as guardians of land, language, and knowledge. The Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum sees itself as a connecting hub within a global network – a place where voices from the Global South can meet and engage with local perspectives,” adds Nanette Snoep, Artistic Director of the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum. 

A concert highlight at the Cologne Philharmonic: As part of the exhibition, a special concert by the Gürzenich Orchestra will take place at the Cologne Philharmonic on 4 November 2025. The performance will merge live music with Salgado’s photography, with his powerful images projected on a grand scale throughout the concert hall.

Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum – Cultures of the World
29 October 2025 – 15 March 2026
rautenstrauch-joest-museum.de
www.marsil.de

 
31.10.2025 show complete article

The Africa Xchange Summit, a two-day event, will bring outstanding personalities from the African continent to Cologne. On October 15th and 16th 2025, guests from the fields of film, games, technology, and finance will meet for stage interviews and panels.

With the perspectives, ideas, and innovations of African experts, the event offers a unique opportunity to strengthen transcontinental connections, promote intercultural exchange in a sustainable manner, and create a market for creative and business collaboration. The conference marks a decisive step in networking with the creative and technological developments of the African continent.

Complete program, further speakers, ticketing option will be provided shortly.

GoSee : rushlake-media.com

 
18.09.2025 show complete article