Elegance Endures at Europe’s Oldest Art Fair
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rom 6–9 November 2025, Cologne’s Koelnmesse transformed into an international art salon. This 58th edition of ART COLOGNE – the world’s first art fair – drew roughly 165 galleries from 25 countries, all under one soaring glass roof. In a sumptuous atmosphere of celebration and discernment, collectors and connoisseurs alike found an extraordinary range of modern and contemporary art. In every hall and corridor, it was clear that Art Cologne 2025 remained an elegant crossroads of heritage and innovation.
Galleries
At the heart of the fair was the GALLERIES section, showcasing established international dealers. Renowned galleries presented art of the highest calibre – from blue-chip masters to avant-garde trailblazers – in luxurious, carefully curated stands. Returning names included London’s Cristea Roberts Gallery, the Richard Saltoun Gallery (with spaces in London, Rome and New York), Berlin’s Galerie Buchmann and Kraupa-Tuskany Zeidler, among others. These familiar houses joined a wave of newcomers from Europe and beyond, underscoring the fair’s global reach. The result was a vibrant mix of works and ideas, with each stand reinforcing Art Cologne’s reputation as a meeting ground for serious collectors and tastemakers.
Neumarkt
The NEUMARKT sector offered the young and restless spirit of the fair – ambitious young galleries bringing fresh energy and innovation. This year saw 34 Neumarkt galleries (seven more than in 2024), including exciting first-timers such as Sweetwater (Berlin), THE PILL (Istanbul/Paris), theSTABLE (Grisons, Switzerland) and Cologne’s own Clementin Seedorf and Cherry Hill, plus Italy’s unconventional zaza’ (Milan/Naples). Their presentations were full of initiative. Notably, zaza’ made a statement with a fully vacuum-sealed booth – an entire trade-fair stand encased like a preserved capsule – that immediately caught visitors’ attention. This bold installation epitomized the courage and experimentation of the young scene, proving that the future of art fairs lies in fresh perspectives and unbridled creativity.
Art + Object
Art Cologne’s ART + OBJECT sector bridged fine art, design and history, creating a dialogue between past and present. Although this area was more compact than in previous years, its impact was no less powerful. Standouts included Uitstalling (Genk/Poznan) and KodlContemporary (Prague), which blended contemporary painting with craft traditions; Rotterdam’s VIVID gallery, known for its innovative decorative art; Milan’s 10 A.M. ART, which paired modern artworks with mid-century design; and Cologne’s Kaune Contemporary Gallery, renowned for merging 20th-century masters with new media. Each of these booths felt like a mini exhibition, thoughtfully curated to show how the language of art can converse with objects and design. Together they illustrated ART COLOGNE’s role in connecting different worlds of creativity, reminding visitors that art is enriched by history even as it reinvents it.
Special Exhibitions
Beyond the gallery sectors, ART COLOGNE 2025 offered several marquee special exhibitions and events. The Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW) presented “Klangwelten” (Worlds of Sound), a collection of over 40 works that explored the interplay of art and music. Curated by Barbara Thomann, this exhibition invited attendees to experience art synesthetically.
Another celebrated highlight was the stand by ZADIK (Zentrum für die Aktion Dialog Kunst), dedicated to Charlotte Zander, the Munich collector and museum founder famous for championing “naive art.” Her collection, accumulated since the 1960s, was showcased to great effect – a colorful trove reflecting a lifetime of passion, perseverance and vision. Visiting the ZADIK display felt like stepping into a private cabinet of wonders, where folk art and outsider works exude an infectious joy.
Even outside the exhibition halls, ART COLOGNE’s imprint was visible. A monumental bronze sculpture by Stefan Strumbel stood guard at Entrance South, an eye-catching signal of the bold art inside. Nearby, local art associations from North Rhine-Westphalia presented their annual “Jahresgaben” pavilion of exclusive gifts – a philanthropic touch that highlighted the city’s vibrant art community. In a nod to art-lifestyle crossovers, the fair collaborated with Design Post Cologne to lavishly furnish the VIP lounge and Passage 10/11. High-end design brands (from Tom Dixon to Ferm Living to Arper, among others) created stylish vignettes, underscoring Cologne’s flair for design and hospitality.
The Art Cologne Prize was also awarded during the fair: Dr. Andrée Sfeir-Semler (founder of Galerie Sfeir-Semler) was celebrated as a trailblazing gallerist and cultural ambassador.
A special gallery stand organized by the German Association of Galleries and Art Dealers (BVDG) paid tribute to her achievements with works from her program. Meanwhile the New Positions sponsorship program showcased 19 emerging artists in curated booths, continuing its 45-year mission of launching young talent on the international stage. And a new fringe event, Neu Cöln, popped up in Cologne’s Ehrenfeld district – a satellite fair organized by local galleries. It brought 45 artists together for a lively series of exhibitions and evening concerts, proving once more that during Art Cologne week the city itself becomes one vast art platform.
Above all, Art Cologne 2025 reaffirmed its timeless appeal. It offered the elegance and refinement befitting a luxury art fair, yet never felt stuffy or self-satisfied – rather, it was a place where art thrived on face-to-face engagement. Industry insiders remarked on the fair’s sophisticated atmosphere and the seamless way it blended Cologne’s cultural heritage with today’s cutting-edge work. As night fell on Sunday, the 58th Art Cologne closed to the satisfied hum of dealers and collectors. With its rich mix of tradition and innovation, the fair proved once again that it endures as an elegant crossroads where heritage and innovation meet.
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