When did you first decide you wanted to become a gallerist?
I wanted to work with art and artists. I just didn’t dare to become an artist myself. So, opening a gallery seemed like the only alternative for me.
What exhibit or art work has inspired you the most?
I was exposed to a lot of art as a child, my parents had many artist friends. I didn’t realize how influential they were until we talked about them in school and I recognized many of them, like Gerhard Richter and On Kawara. Today I am working with some of the most influential contemporary artists, like Katharina Grosse or Camille Henrot. I couldn’t possibly say who influenced me most, I think it’s an accumulation of many things.
You have recently started working with digital artists, do you see potential in this medium?
I think that the digital realm will be more and more present inthe art world because so many aspects of our life are influenced by technology. Digital exhibitions can be accessed from everywhere, at any time, which makes digital art very accessible in general. Many artists are already successfully using online platforms as part of their artistic practice.
How do you think the pandemic has changed the art industry and do you think exhibitions/art fairs will have to change the way they operate after things get back to normal?
I am not sure if it is foreseeable yet, how much the pandemic will change the art industry. That probably depends on how much longer it will last. Many artist and small galleries are already struggling. They need the exposure through art fairs. For me personally, it was also actually a relief to not have do to so many art fairs last year, some years we did about 20 fairs. The costs are very high, and you spend so much time travelling. Maybe that unvoluntary break helps to slow down the pace.
What do you look for in an artist when you decide to represent them?
There is no specific quality or style I look for because I don’trepresent a certain school or region. We always try to represent the most relevant positions in their respective fields.The most important thing for an artist is to have a unique language in their work and that they contribute something meaningful through their art.
What has been the most memorable highlight of your career so far?
A huge step was definitely taking over St. Agnes, a desacralized church, as a gallery space. I am also proud that almost half of the artists I represent are women, many of which are driving forces in contemporary art, like Katharina Grosse or Alicja Kwade.
Would you like to share any tips for someone who has just started collecting art?
Most of the artists that we represent are already very well established and therefore seem to be unavailable for someone with a smaller budget. Therefore, we started a new branch a while back, Edition KÖNIG. An edition is a possibility to own a piece of an artist’s work for an affordable price and a great way to start collecting.
We have always been transparent about our prices and started to openly display them at art fairs and online. I think that makes it easier to talk about an artwork itself because even established collectors might only dare to ask for the price of one or two works. I think that no one should feel too intimidated to approach a gallery to ask about an artist or anartwork. Always have an open mind to explore new things.