Despite the worst weather of the century in mid-September, 17,000 visitors flocked to Messe Wien for the 10th edition of viennacontemporary.

The new location in Hall D provided ample space for new and established highlights such as ZONE1 with young art with a connection to Austria, CONTEXT with a focus on artists of the late 20th, and the special exhibition “The Color of Energy”, which dealt with sustainability and the climate crisis.

 

 

 

 

Francesca Gavin, the fair’s artistic director, summarized the first edition positively:

“The energy and quality of the fair exceeded all expectations. We wanted to position Vienna as a serious art location and show the scene’s vibrancy.”

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High-caliber guests and international networking

Major international institutions were represented, including the Haus der Kunst (Munich), the Italian Biennale Pavilion, the Camden Art Centre (London) and the MUNCH Museum (Oslo). Leading personalities such as collector Galila Barzilaï-Hollander, Eugenio Re Rebaudengo from London, and art consultant Maria-Theresia Mathisen also enriched the lecture program. Other renowned speakers included the Vienna-based Monika Figaj, an expert on climate and just transition, Stefan Sattler, an expert on renewable energies at the City of Vienna, Philippe Batka, curator for art collections at the Vienna Insurance Group, Alisa Schubert, Energy, and Climate Officer of Green Deal Ukraine, and Sithara Pathirana, Program Director of the Climate Biennale.

 

 

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Record number of art prizes for the promotion of contemporary art

A record number of prizes supported young talents and galleries: The LUKOWA Acquisition Prize went to Irene Fenara and ZERO…, the viennacontemporary | Bildrecht Solo Award went to Davide Allieri and Galerie Hubert Winter, and the VCC Collectors Prize honored Noushin Redjaian with Galerie Ernst Hilger from ZONE1. The Queer Art Prize honored works and galleries that make queer positions and diversity visible: Frederik Marroquin, Siggi Sekira, and Megan Tatem were awarded the Queer Art (Community) Prize; Anastasia Sosunova with eastcontemporary and Philipp Fleischmann with Wonnerth Dejaco received the Queer Art (Gallery) Prize.

 

 

 

 

 

Markus Huber, Managing Director of viennacontemporary, concludes:

“This year’s edition of viennacontemporary has shown how important a major importance of a major international fair for Vienna as an art location, but also for the galleries and artists from neighboring countries and the CEE region. We will continue on the positive path we have taken with this edition.”

 

We cordially invite you to join us again next year and look forward to seeing you there!

SAVE THE DATE
viennacontemporary 2025
September 11-14
Halle D of Messe Wien