Top art galleries – insider tips in Hamburg



Popular artists in Hamburg and the surrounding area

Lukas Rosen

Art student at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW)

Phoolan Matzak

Art student at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW)

Tobias Cohrs

Art student at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW)

Yuliia Ukrainets

Art student at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW)

Popular galleries in Hamburg and the surrounding area

Marziart Art Gallery, Hamburg

Carmen Ziegler Gallery, Hamburg

Grooves Gallery in the Cramer Villa

Marziart Art Gallery, Hamburg

Atelier Figurart Art Gallery, Hamburg

Elbdörfer Galerie Art Gallery, Hamburg

Art Gallery Hamburg

Hamburg is renowned for its dynamic art scene. The art galleries in Hamburg and numerous studios not only offer artists space to develop their craft, but also a platform to establish themselves in the international art world. Famous artists such as Horst Janssen, Otto Dix and A. Paul Weber worked here and had a significant influence on the city’s art scene. Young artists find an inspiring environment in Hamburg that supports their creative development. The city hosts many art exhibitions where emerging talents can showcase their work. In addition to its numerous art galleries, Hamburg is also home to major art institutions such as the Hamburger Kunsthalle, which plays a key role in shaping the art scene.

Another key hub of Hamburg’s art scene is the Hamburg University of Fine Arts (HFBK). This renowned institution attracts talent from all over the world and offers students an environment in which they can develop their artistic skills. Graduates of the HFBK exhibit their work in Hamburg’s art galleries, amongst other venues, and contribute to the city’s vibrant art culture. One example of this is the HFBK’s own Institute for Contemporary Art & Transfer, which offers students a platform for their work and provides an insight into the current trends and themes of the contemporary art scene. Art exhibitions are held here regularly, showcasing the creative potential of young artists.

A diverse range of art galleries in Hamburg

The LEVY Galerie has been active in the international art world for over 50 years and has earned a first-class reputation amongst European galleries. The gallery was founded in Hamburg in 1970 by Thomas Levy and pursues a diverse programme based on the pillars of Surrealism, Nouveau Réalisme and Pop Art. In addition to curating and organising exhibitions, the gallery offers comprehensive artist support and art consultancy. LEVY Galerie represents artists such as Eduardo Arroyo, Werner Berges, Mel Ramos and Daniel Spoerri, as well as the estates of Meret Oppenheim and Friedrich Einhoff. The gallery regularly takes part in renowned art fairs such as ARCO in Madrid, the Armory Show in New York and Art Cologne. Its works can be found in collections such as the Centre Pompidou, the MoMA in New York and the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich.

Another highlight among Hamburg’s art galleries is the Renate Kammer Gallery. It was founded in 1966 as the ‘Galerie Kammer’ by Hansjürgen and Renate Kammer. Since 1976, Renate Kammer has run the gallery on her own, focusing on Pop Art, Fluxus and international contemporary art. Early on, the gallery staged significant art exhibitions in Hamburg, including shows by Joseph Beuys, Andy Warhol, David Hockney and Allen Jones. In the 1990s, she collaborated with Angelika Hinrichs and specialised in architecture exhibitions, featuring international architects such as Peter Eisenman and Zaha Hadid. From 1995 onwards, the gallery concentrated on architecture and concrete art, with exhibitions by artists such as Max H. Mahlmann and Ludwig Wilding.

Art and culture in HafenCity

Hafencity is not only an architectural highlight but also a hub for art exhibitions in Hamburg. It is home to numerous art galleries that play an important role in Hamburg’s art scene. One of these art galleries in Hamburg is the Galerie Karin Guenther. The gallery specialises in contemporary art and showcases works by both established and emerging artists. Guenther has previously exhibited works by Valie Export and Martin Kippenberger.

Another gallery worth mentioning in HafenCity is the Melike Bilir Gallery. This young art gallery in Hamburg serves as a creative testing ground for contemporary art and performance. It presents art exhibitions by up-and-coming international artists and, through independent projects and collaborations, promotes a critical engagement with the interdisciplinary aspects of visual art. Through its art exhibitions, the Melike Bilir Gallery impressively demonstrates how art galleries in Hamburg promote the city’s artistic diversity and give young talents the opportunity to make a name for themselves.

Founded in 1985 by Andrée Sfeir-Semler, the Sfeir-Semler Gallery operates art galleries in Hamburg and Beirut. It focuses on international contemporary art, with an emphasis on conceptual and minimalist art. For over 15 years, the gallery has played a central role in art production in the Arab world and has fostered cultural exchange between Western and Middle Eastern art practices. The gallery has played a decisive role in establishing artists such as Walid Raad, Akram Zaatari and Etel Adnan, and also supports a younger generation of artists such as Lawrence Abu Hamdan and Mounira al Solh. It regularly presents ambitious art exhibitions in Hamburg and Beirut, takes part in major art fairs and collaborates on large-scale international projects, including the 58th Venice Biennale and dOCUMENTA 14. This gallery is a prime example of how art galleries in Hamburg are turning the city into an international hub for contemporary art.

Young talent in Hamburg

Hamburg offers young talents numerous opportunities to establish themselves in the city’s art scene. One particularly interesting art gallery in Hamburg is Galerie Oel-Früh. This gallery is situated in the Schanzenviertel, one of Hamburg’s most creative neighbourhoods. The gallery is committed to providing young artists with a platform on which they can present their work to a wide audience. The art exhibitions at this gallery are often experimental and reflect the diversity and dynamism of contemporary art. This art gallery in Hamburg is a key venue for promoting and supporting young talent and plays a significant role in the city’s vibrant art scene.

Another art gallery in Hamburg that specialises in young talent is Galerie Feinkunst Krüger. It brings young and exceptional artistic voices to the public’s attention. Since its opening, renowned artists such as Emil Schult have supported the art gallery in Hamburg. Many artists who took their first steps at this art gallery in Hamburg – including Till Gerhard and Volker Hueller – are now internationally established. Today, the gallery’s focus is on established painting and drawing. The art exhibitions in Hamburg also showcase related developments such as sculpture and installation, which place the gallery spaces in new contexts. International artists such as Derek Hess and Jay Ryan celebrated their European premieres at this art gallery in Hamburg. Furthermore, Feinkunst Krüger brought the ‘Don’t Wake Daddy’ series to Europe, showcasing LowBrow Art in Hamburg’s art exhibitions and thereby enriching the Hamburg art gallery scene with international influences.

Hamburg’s art galleries offer art enthusiasts an impressive variety of works, ranging from classical painting to contemporary art. Hamburg’s art exhibitions take visitors on a journey through art history and provide insights into the city’s diverse and vibrant art scene. Hamburg offers an inspiring environment where artists and art enthusiasts alike can find something to their taste.

Hamburg talent at the Student Art Market

High-quality art can be purchased not only in Hamburg’s art galleries, but also at the Student Art Market. This event showcases numerous works by young Hamburg-based artists. Among them is Phoolan Matzak, who, through experimenting with various materials and her love of colour and form, has developed a penchant for paper collages and abstract painting. The resulting works, created intuitively from numerous layers of colour and overlapping planes, are characterised by powerful compositions with a multi-layered scope for interpretation.

In his art, Lukas Rosen combines surrealism, melancholy and humour to depict human interactions in a minimalist yet powerful visual language. His works, which are often limited to just a few materials and simple lines, arise from a deliberate process of restriction, which allows him to achieve a unique diversity.


The most popular artists at the student art market organised by universities and art schools in Hamburg and the surrounding area

Photographs by Lukas Rosen

SOLD
untitled (three flowers)
130 x 90

€700.00*
untitled (three flowers)
SOLD
113
150 x 100

€1,800.00*
113
SOLD
an honest smile (limitierte Siebdruck Edition)
100 x 70

€280.00*
an honest smile (limitierte Siebdruck Edition)

Pictures by Phoolan Matzak