There is never a better time of year to buy art than at the end of the year. You can give it as a gift to others but best of all to yourself. If you’re concerned it’s out of budget or don’t know where to find it, here are a few nice Berlin options. The British painter Richard Kellett draws beautiful pastels quietly and modestly in his Wedding studio. You can buy them directly from him in the studio until next week and also catch a glimpse of his canvas works, which can be described as post-Rothko and as liberatingly beautiful, in the best sense. More works on paper are still available until 12.01.2025 at Kunstraum Kreuzberg in Bethanien on Mariannenplatz at the Anonyme Zeichner. Initiator Anke Becker has curated 1000 drawings by 1000 international artists. You will only discover which piece is by which artist after you buy it — so there’s a bit of luck in unexpectedly finding the next Egon Schiele. All works cost 250 euros and can be purchased in-person and online. Julius Bobke prepared himself well for Christmas with “378 mal das Haus vom Nikolaus“, at fifty euros a piece. Auctions are notoriously hard with failures, but they are a bargain for the buyers afterward, even if the artists usually don’t get as much out of it. It’s different with direct auctions, where art is carted straight out of the city’s studios. At the Jeschke Jadi auction house, there is the open post-sale of the last bidding battle. This means you can buy anything still in the catalog for the starting price. The same applies to the small “Auktionshaus am Grunewald“, where there are beautiful works from last weekend’s auction in their catalog — it’s worth a look because this is a classic secondary market.
If you prefer a marketplace atmosphere to online browsing and have a heart for ultra-contemporary pop, take a look at the XOXO Marketplace in Prenzlauer Berg this weekend. Under the motto “Come by, say hi and buy!”, discover art by young and up-and-coming artists. Artists will receive 100% of the proceeds, an important act amid dark times for Berlin’s creative artists. (Pssst… keep your eyes peeled for the works of Marta Djourina in particular). Incidentally, the edition start-up Works on Skin, which sells works produced in editions for under the skin, will be there. Here you can find motifs from Charlie Stein to Timm Ulrichs from 100 euros… and if you’re not quite sure yet, simply hang them on the wall first. An art tattoo for the new year is an even more drastic new companion. If, like me, this is all too much and you just want something small for little money without having to rummage through a thousand stands or click through hundreds of pages, you might be happy with these fabulous glass flies by Wie-yi T. Lauw or the enchanting plasters (“having issues” — what a title) by Felix Deiters. Rarely has the abject been so beautiful and comforting. And you can’t get enough comfort anyway.
Text: Hilka Dirks / Credits: Eric Tschernow, Richard Kellett, Wie-yi T. Lauw
Richard Kellett
Address of his studio on request.
Kunstraum Kreuzberg / Bethanien, Mariannenpl.2, 10997 Berlin–Kreuzberg; map
Anonyme Zeichner:innen 2024 until 12.01.2025
Julius Bobke
378 mal das Haus vom Nikolaus
Jeschke Jadi
Find the catalog here.
Auktionshaus am Grunewald
Find the catalog here.
ASK, Christinenstr.15, 10119 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map
XOXO Marketplace 14.12.2024 16–00h & 15.12.2024 17h (Mimosa Brunch)
Wie-yi T. Lauw
Felix Deiters
@richard_kellett
@kunstraumkreuzberg
@jf_bobke
@jeschkejadi_auctions
@aagrunewald
@roam_projects_______
@wieyi.t.lauw
@flx_dtrs
