Berlin Art Week 2025

But keeping a clear, organised overview in the midst of this enticing chaos of artists, stunning locations, and diverse performances can be a real challenge. That’s why we’ve taken it upon ourselves to sift through it all and select seven hypnotic, otherworldly, intoxicating, gripping, and haunting highlights just for you: From Gisela Getty and the memory of her twin sister, to historical Persian vessels at Haus der Visionäre, a film shot entirely on a smartphone by Gia Coppola, and Berlin’s beloved icon Sven Marquardt — it’s all here.

And why seven? Because that’s our lucky number, of course.

If you go to Berlin Art Week, there is one photographer you simply cannot miss – because otherwise, you’d miss the chance to fully grasp the beauty of this city. And that’s, of course, Sven Marquardt, who is known for his documentary visual style that connects nightlife, art, and fashion by capturing rare and extraordinary moments of intimacy. 

He presents Disturbing Beauty, a spatial and sensory experience created in collaboration with motion and sound designer Tilius Sodeka, as well as visual artist Tavy Hornbrook. The installation includes large-scale black-and-white portraits, atmospheric piano music, and various video installations. Be quick, because this monumental creative force by one of Berlin’s most iconic personas unfolds for one night only — September 11.

To summarise this deeply personal photo exhibition in one short paragraph is almost impossible, which speaks for Gisela Getty’s work and should be reason enough for you to visit it. But we’re still going to try: In Ashes to Rishikesh, the German artist documents the final year in the life of her twin sister, Jutta Winkelmann, who refused strong medication in order to fully immerse herself in the experience of dying. 

Getty’s photographs, therefore, tell a story of mortality, transformation, awareness, and self-determination — of letting go, courage, tenderness, and the special bond between the two sisters. Surprisingly, the images are neither voyeuristic nor sentimental. They dissolve the taboo of death and present life’s end as a possible, unknown beginning.

This year, Dancæ’s signature dance ensemble, Ballet Sur_real, presents five figures, five embodiments of different states of being: power, chaos, duplicity, fragility, and ferality. These five states interact with one another in the multi-sensory performance Modalities of Me. 

Inside a life-size installation by the Swiss-based visual collective Encor Studio, they explore how modern love is shaped – and often distorted – by increasingly complex environments: how desire can shift under the pressure of digital spaces, club culture, or curated identities; and how deeply hidden parts of the self fight to break free. It’s an incredibly powerful and emotional reflection on intimacy, so anyone still deciding where to go should plan a trip to Monopol, the former distillery that now functions as a unique cultural venue in northern Berlin.

On the opening night of Berlin Art Week, there is one debut that stands out as a unique artistic experiment — one that connects homecoming, technology, and the poetry of everyday life: Edie is an art project created by filmmaker and visual artist Gia Coppola (The Last Showgirl) in creative partnership with Google Pixel. 

What that means is at once simpler – and more complex – than it sounds: Edie is the first film ever shot entirely on a Google Pixel. Drawing inspiration from the chaotic streets of Coppola’s hometown, Los Angeles, the piece explores how cinematic beauty can emerge from seemingly ordinary settings. So, if you’re looking for a quiet yet powerful moment amid the rush of Berlin Art Week, make sure to stop by the Kiosque Pixel at Besselstr. 14, a pop-up space where Edie will be on display.

If you're heading to Haus der Visionäre during Art Week (as you should, we already told you that) you're in for more than just Sven Marquardt’s Disturbing Beauty. Make sure to also check out Soft Power: a site-specific installation by Anahita Sadighi and Haus der Visionäre itself, centred around Persian amphorae from the 16th to 19th centuries. These stunning historical objects are reimagined as vessels of cultural memory, directly referencing the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran. It’s a bold and moving statement, nestled right in the middle of your probably chaotic Art Week schedule. Delicate floral interventions and contemporary sound elements round out the experience, creating a multi-sensory dialogue that lingers long after you’ve left.

Just recently, Singaporean contemporary artist and filmmaker Ho Tzu Nyen was named Artistic Director of the 2026 Gwangju Biennale — pretty major news. But before he dives into that role, there’s something else you shouldn’t miss: his debut exhibition at neugerriemschneider in Berlin-Mitte. 

2 Stories: Voids & Times is a rich, multilayered audiovisual experience rooted in the histories, politics, and cultures of East and Southeast Asia. Through a series of installations, Nyen blends scripted storytelling with machine learning, creating immersive environments where fact and myth, past and present, blur into one. It’s complex, thought-provoking, and totally captivating.

When you step into Seeing Things the Way We See the Moon, get ready for a whole lot of silicone, wax, and sweaty, synthetic skin. Think: abstract organ-like forms, glossy unidentifiable surfaces, and a slightly uncanny atmosphere that’s definitely not for the faint of heart. But if you’ve got the stomach for it, this one’s a must-see. 

Spanning works from 2012 to today, this is Korean artist Jiyoung Yoon’s first solo exhibition in Europe — and it’s as captivating as it is visceral. As the title suggests, the show is inspired by the poetic notion that we only ever see the moon as light makes it appear. Therefore, Yoon’s work investigates how meanings emerge, how they shift or how they can remain hidden. Her sculptures, installations, texts, and videos become a deep dive into perception, memory, and the visibility of the body, pushing physical experience into spatial, material, and media-based expression. Strange, stunning, and deeply immersive.