Deichtorhallen is one of the largest centres for contemporary art and photography in Europe. The two structures that make up the main site are former market halls dating from 1911. Their industrial steel and glass construction, one of the few examples left of this post-Art Nouveau style, makes for a stunning backdrop, against which some of the finest examples of cutting-edge art have been exhibited.
Head to the North Hall, or “Hall for Contemporary Art”, to discover the latest exhibitions from leading painters, sculptors and designers. The Deichtorhallen curators always aim to work closely with exhibiting artists, with the aim of using the unique space to its fullest, resulting in a dynamic interplay between art and architecture. With a history of significant solo exhibitions by greats such as Louise Bourgeois and Andy Warhol, as well as group shows by little-known artists at the start of their career, you’ll definitely be treated to thought-provoking works.
The South Hall, or “House of Photography”, is dedicated to world-class examples of fashion, art and journalistic photography. The eponymous permanent collection provided by photographer, collector and curator F.C. Gundlach takes pride of place. His life’s work to date consists of a fascinating portfolio of fashion photo-reportage, documenting the key epochs of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. In addition, the Deichtorhallen galleries hold an extensive collection of photographic works published by the magazine “Der Spiegel”.
The North and South Halls were joined by a third venue, the Phoenixhalle, in January 2011. Located in the city’s Harburg district, it houses the Falckenberg Collection made up of around 2,000 works of contemporary German and American art from the past three decades.
The Deichtorhallen galleries are open every day except Mondays. Tickets are available for admission to one or more of the venues. Take the U-Bahn to Steinstrasse station for the North and South Halls, and the S-Bahn to Hamburg-Harburg station for the Phoenixhalle.
