Peter Wächtler

In the fall of 2026, the Haus am Waldsee will present the first comprehensive institutional solo exhibition by artist Peter Wächtler in Berlin.

– Peter Wächtler, Untitled (Sloth), 2017, Filmstill, Courtesy der Künstler und Galerie Lars Friedrich, Berlin

Wächtler (born in 1979 in Hanover; lives and works in Berlin) develops his work beyond fixed definitions of art or categorizations: He writes, films, draws, paints, and builds sculptures and film sets to transform familiar genres and narrative styles into a fragile balance of nostalgia, tragedy, and comedy. Over the course of two decades, Wächtler has developed his own visual language that draws on the supposed comfort of the past to intertwine contemporary contradictions between self-determination and self-surrender.

Wächtler’s works employ traditional visual symbols—such as figurines, animal sculptures, paperweights, or industrial design—that stand for historical events and eras, yet lose their sharpness through repetition, much like caricatures. Stripped of their contexts, they haunt Wächtler’s worlds like mythical creatures, channeling diffuse fears and emotions. In this way, Wächtler consistently creates images that draw on traditions, expose their fragility, and thereby test their relevance to the present. The exhibition features existing and new works, including a new video production.

Hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Open on holidays (except December 24, 25, and 31).

Supported by Hauptstadtkulturfonds; Haus am Waldsee – Friends and Sponsors e.V.

Runtime: Fri, 16/10/2026 to Sun, 17/01/2027

Takes place here:

• Haus am Waldsee