Friends and Patrons of art karlsruhe e.V.
The Friends and Patrons of art karlsruhe is a support association founded in April 2023.
The association promotes art and culture, especially within the framework of the annual art fair art karlsruhe, with the aim of introducing the general public to art and culture and intensifying their interest in it.
The association aims to secure important works of art offered at art karlsruhe for Karlsruhe and the state of Baden-Württemberg and to make them available to all art lovers as permanent loans to museums.
Board of Directors
Britta Wirtz (Chair)
Julia Fehrenbach
Klaus Link
Klaus R. Müller
Achim Schneider
In addition to personal memberships, we also offer corporate memberships
If you have any questions, please contact freundeskreis@art-karlsruhe.de at any time.
Association activities
Friends and patrons of art karlsruhe e.V. present a work of art by Dionisio González to the Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe
With the help of the friends and patrons of art karlsruhe e.V., the Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe is expanding its collection with an internationally acclaimed work of contemporary art: Wittgenstein's Cabin 10 (2021) by Dionisio González impressively combines architecture, philosophy and questions about the future. The large-format photograph was acquired with the support of the association at the 2025 edition of the fair by the Berlin gallery Taubert Contemporary.
"With the commitment of our circle of friends, we want to provide impetus for art and culture, both regionally and internationally. Dionisio González's work brings the past, present and future into dialogue in a fascinating way, and we are delighted to be able to present the Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe with this new acquisition, which sends a strong signal for contemporary photography," says Britta Wirtz, chairwoman of the board of Friends and Sponsors of art karlsruhe e.V.
The Wittgenstein's Cabin series was created during the coronavirus pandemic and is inspired by the famous cabin of Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. He had it built in 1914 according to his own designs on a Norwegian fjord. On a rocky outcrop high above the Sognefjord, Wittgenstein sought complete seclusion in order to devote himself to questions of logic and the philosophy of language. The cabin was only accessible by boat in summer or across the ice in winter – a radical alternative to upper-class life.
New exhibitors from Cologne, Leipzig and Salzburg accept the invitation from friends and sponsors and present their programme for art karlsruhe 2026.
Art in dialogue – exclusive insights into art karlsruhe 2026
On 9 December 2025, a special preview of art karlsruhe took place for the second time. This year, it was held in cooperation with and on the premises of our long-standing partner LBBW in the Victoria Tower in Mannheim.
Kristian Jarmuschek and Olga Blaß (art karlsruhe exhibition directors) joined forces with the newly exhibiting galleries Mario Mauroner (Salzburg), Philipp Anders (Leipzig) and Anke Schmidt (Cologne) to provide an exclusive preview of art karlsruhe 2026.
Guests were given the opportunity to take part in a guided tour by LBBW collection manager Sarah Haberkorn and curator Barbara Thomann, providing an exclusive insight into the new presentation of the LBBW art collection in Mannheim – one of the most outstanding corporate collections of contemporary art in Germany.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to LBBW for this collaboration!
To the first, to the second, to the third...
Successful benefit auction by the friends and sponsors of art karlsruhe: High five-figure donation sum raised for the benefit of artists and the ZKM project ‘Art up your Life’
67,700 euros - this impressive donation sum was raised on Friday, 4 July 2025, at the second benefit art auction by the friends and sponsors of art karlsruhe e. V. at the Konzerthaus Karlsruhe. Around 50 works selected by the art karlsruhe galleries were auctioned off to a full house and a good atmosphere, creating an impressive combination of art, social commitment and generous support.
The proceeds from the auction will benefit the artists of the auctioned works and the SANNI Foundation in equal parts. The foundation will double the amount and use it to support the ‘Art up your Life’ project at the ZKM | Centre for Art and Media Karlsruhe - a creative initiative to strengthen mental health and social participation.
The evening was hosted by Britta Wirtz, Chairwoman of the Board of the Friends and Sponsors of art karlsruhe and Managing Director of Messe Karlsruhe, together with auctioneer Kristian Jarmuschek, who conducted the auctions in an entertaining and engaging manner. In addition to high-calibre works by established galleries, the raffle of the porcelain work ‘Mademoiselle’ by Anke Eilergerhard also provided particular excitement.
Visit by children from Durlacher Selbst e.V.
As part of art karlsruhe 2025, 15 children together with carers from Durlacher Selbst e.V. were able to experience their first visit to the fair and, in particular, their first visit to an art fair.
After a short welcome by the board members Britta Wirtz, Achim Schneider and Julia Fehrenbach, the children were able to enjoy a little refreshment before entering the large fair with a special art education programme for children (‘Art is fun?’). Finally, the children who also took part in therapeutic painting were allowed to lend a hand in the art karlsruhe painting workshop before the bus took them home again.
It was a pleasure for us to see so many shining children's eyes at once. The children clearly enjoyed their first visit to the fair and were able to take away a lot of inspiration for their creative work and development.
New exhibitors accept the invitation of the Friends and Sponsors and present their programme for art karlsruhe 2025
Around 50 friends and supporters of art karlsruhe were able to experience a foretaste of art karlsruhe 2025 on 24 January.
The newly exhibiting galleries Taubert Contemporary, Rehbein Galerie and COSAR gave attendees an insight into their gallery portfolio and presented the artistic positions that will be on display in the exhibition booths just 4 weeks later.
Friends and Patrons of art karlsruhe present artwork by Ulla von Brandenburg to the Städtische Galerie Karlsruhe
The Städtische Galerie Karlsruhe has added an important new work of art to its collection: The Friends and Patrons of art karlsruhe e. V. have handed over the work “Stage” by the renowned artist Ulla von Brandenburg, which was acquired from the Karlsruhe gallery Meyer Riegger at this year's art karlsruhe with the support of the association, to Dr. Stefanie Patruno, Director of the Städtische Galerie.
The work “Stage” by Ulla von Brandenburg, an internationally renowned artist from Karlsruhe, impresses with its high aesthetic quality and artistic expressiveness. The artist, who is exhibited in many renowned museums worldwide and has received numerous awards, is represented in Karlsruhe by Galerie Meyer Riegger.
By supporting the purchase of the work, the Friends and Patrons of art karlsruhe e.V. are sending a further signal of their efforts to promote the city's art and cultural landscape. Britta Wirtz, chairwoman of the association and managing director of Messe Karlsruhe, emphasizes: “It is a great pleasure for us as Friends and Patrons of art karlsruhe e.V. to support this purchase. In doing so, we are not only supporting an internationally recognized artist from Karlsruhe, but also contributing to the further development of the Städtische Galerie's collection. This evening is another example of the successful cooperation between art patrons, galleries and municipal institutions, which leads to the enrichment of Karlsruhe's art landscape.”
Dr. Stefanie Patruno, Director of the Städtische Galerie Karlsruhe, adds: “With the inclusion of Ulla von Brandenburg's work ‘Stage’ in our collection, we would like to set an important impulse. It is important to us to show an even more comprehensive picture of the work of individual artists in the future and make it accessible to the public - and thus enrich our city with contemporary art.”
First, second, third...
art karlsruhe Friends and Sponsors premiere a complete success: art auction secures five-figure sum for the Parkinson's Foundation
The Friends and Patrons of art karlsruhe invited visitors to their first charity art auction on Friday, 21 June 2024. Renowned galleries made works by their artists available for auction to raise money for a good cause.
The 50 artworks realised a proud total of 77,800.00 euros, 50% of which went to the artists and the remaining 50% directly to the Parkinson's Foundation.
Kristian Jarmuschek, Chairman of the Advisory Board of art karlsruhe, took on the role of auctioneer and with his dynamic, engaging and entertaining manner succeeded in raising many arms in the packed auction room.
TV legend Frank Elstner thanks personally
Frank Elstner, who has been an ambassador for the Parkinson's Foundation for several years, was more than pleased with the successful evening, which he accompanied on site: "Being here today is a very special occasion for me and a wonderful combination," he says. "This event brings people interested in art to an auction in the hope that a lot of money will be raised to support research and science that cannot yet cure Parkinson's, but is well on the way to treating it in the next few years."
You can find the official press release on the charity art auction