Marc Brandenburg: 20th Century Debris

The exhibition at the Berlinische Galerie is dedicated to the multifaceted work of Marc Brandenburg, who has been shaping the Berlin art scene for decades.

– Marc Brandenburg, Ohne Titel, 2024 (Ausschnitt), Courtesy Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac

His works move confidently between drawing, collage, film, and performative formats. The focus is on finely crafted pencil drawings based on photographic source material. The artist collects these templates in urban spaces as well as from pop culture, mass media, and archives. In the drawing process, the motifs are alienated, mirrored, or dissolved, so that the result is not a documentary representation, but a condensed, often unsettling view of reality.

Thematically, Brandenburg's works revolve around life in the big city and its contradictions. On display are snapshots of demonstrations, marginalised existences and subcultural milieus, as well as images of consumer waste and icons of pop history. His drawings negotiate social tensions, excess and societal upheavals without commenting on them explicitly. Instead of a clear narrative, they create a sombre, resonant atmosphere that reflects a sense of permanent crisis.

The exhibition brings together around 150 works from different creative phases. In addition to new works, early drawings from the 1990s that have not been on public display for a long time are also shown. The presentation is complemented by videos, photographic works, and designs from other artistic fields.

About Marc Brandenburg:

Marc Brandenburg was born in 1965 and lives in Berlin. He is internationally regarded as one of the most influential figures in contemporary drawing and works across media at the intersection of visual art, film, and performance.

Runtime: Fri, 17/04/2026 to Mon, 14/09/2026

Takes place here:

• Berlinische Galerie