KW Freunde

Die KW Freunde e.V. wurden 1996 gegründet mit dem Ziel, das kulturelle Programm der KW Institute for Contemporary Art zu unterstützen.

Die Freunde fördern jährlich eine Ausstellung sowie eine Reihe weiterer Initiativen der KW. The KW Friends subsidize an annual on-site exhibition and also other initiatives at KW throughout the year.

28/04/2026

Spring has sprung and it’s the week of Gallery Weekend Berlin 2026 🌱☀️

We’re excited to count so many Berlin galleries among our members. Check out their programs, visit their new exhibitions, buy art, support our Friends!

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➡️ It’s also the last two weeks to see the exhibitions by Klara Liden, Jean Katambayi Mukendi, and Else Marie Pade at KW, with extended opening hours on 1 May until 9 pm. Come by! 🌷

21/04/2026

Did you know that KW Friends has existed for 30 years? 🐋

Founded in 1996, the non-profit association has been a constant supporter of KW and the Berlin Biennale. The voluntary engagement and commitment by all members plays a big part in what keeps both institutions thriving.

Are you interested in discovering more about the Friends community around these two institutions? Join us now by registering online 🔗 link in bio!
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Wusstest du, dass es die KW Friends schon seit 30 Jahren gibt? 🐳

Der 1996 gegründete gemeinnützige Verein ist seit jeher ein treuer Förderer der KW und der Berlin Biennale. Das ehrenamtliche Engagement aller Mitglieder trägt maßgeblich zur lebendigen Weiterentwicklung beider Institutionen bei.

Werde jetzt Mitglied bei den Friends, indem du dich online anmeldest 🔗 Link in Bio!

Image 1: Opening at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2024. Photo: David von Becker.
Image 2: KW Friends New Years Dinner at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2024. Photo: Seamus Platt.
Image 3: Free Thursday at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2026. Photo: Frank Sperling.
Image 4: Jane Jin Kaisen, Halmang, 2023; Portal, 2024; installation view, 13th Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art © Jane Jin Kaisen/VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2025. Photo: Philipp Gladsome

25/03/2026

Together with Director Emma Enderby, we had the pleasure of experiencing the current KW exhibitions through her curatorial lens, beginning with Klara Lidén. Known for her distinctive engagement with urban space, Lidén’s work invites us to reconsider the boundaries between public and private, social order and disruption.

This was followed by an insightful introduction to the practice of Jean Katambayi Mukendi, whose intricate, speculative constructions draw on themes of technology, infrastructure, and energy—offering perspectives rooted in both imagination and everyday realities. His exhibition is supported by KW Friends e.V.

Finally, we had the opportunity to attend an experimental concert by cellist Khabat Abas, presented as part of the exhibition dedicated to Danish sound artist Else Marie Pade (1924–2016).

Many thanks to everyone who joined us, and to Emma for the wonderful tour! 💫

The exhibitions are on view until 10 May 2026.

10/03/2026

FRIENDS TRIP TO MADRID ☀️

On the occasion of the 45th edition of ARCOmadrid, we traveled to the Spanish capital for a multi-day trip! At the art fair, alongside several of our member galleries from Berlin, we discovered many new artists and galleries—particularly from Spain as well as Latin and South America.

Around the fair, the art week offered a rich program of gallery openings, open studios, exclusive receptions, and special guided tours in major institutions. Highlights included a studio visit with Teresa Solar Abboud, a private visit to the Colección Vergez with the collectors Juan and Patricia Vergez, great exhibitions at La Casa Encendida and Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, and—last but not least—the CAN Art Fair, where Ventana Project presented an outstanding booth. We also had the pleasure of visiting them for a matinée at their studio space Doble Erre.

What a wonderful time we had! Thank you, Madrid, for the great moments, the fantastic food, your joyful atmosphere, and the many margaritas. We’ll gladly be back! 🍸

24/02/2026

The Spring Season 2026 has started at KW with solo shows by Klara Lidén, Jean Katambayi Mukendi and Else Marie Pade 💥💥💥

KW Friends e.V. hosted an exclusive PREVIEW, allowing our guests to discover the exhibitions in an intimate setting before the public opening rush – free from the usual queues. With a warm welcome speech by director Emma Enderby, followed by drinks and pretzels at Café Bravo, sponsored by .berlin and , we kicked off a fantastic night that flowed straight into an afterparty with an incredible line-up.

Huge thanks to the KW team for always inspiring us with outstanding exhibitions that we are proud to support, to the amazing artists Klara Lidén, Jean Katambayi Mukendi and Else Marie Pade for letting us see the world with different eyes, and to our dear members for your continued (or newly sparked) engagement. ✨

On view until 10 May – don’t miss it!

Images: Preview Spring Program 2026, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Photo: Studio Replica.

04/02/2026

SPECIAL VISIT 🥂

As part of a collaboration between and , a group of art students engaged with the work of Kazuko Miyamoto. The project drew inspiration from her site-specific installations originally created in New York’s public space in the early 1980s.

In the week-long exhibition ‚Connecting over Bridges‘ in KW’s Mediation Room, the young artists presented their collaborative process behind the recreation of Miyamoto’s works for KW’s courtyard, as well as their own artworks developed in this project.

We invited our members and to a special visit with the students. Many thanks to the young artists for your dedicated presentations and your thoughtful engagement with Kazuko Miyamoto!

27/01/2026

Next to our in-house events, we enjoy visiting other institutions regularly in and around Berlin, including conversations with artists, curators, and directors—mostly outside regular opening hours. Join this year’s Friends program with special visits at and more.

Swipe to see images of our 2025 visits to and . Thank you for having us and especially to the artists and for sharing so many insights to your exhibitions!

Link in bio for membership registration.

05/01/2026

Last week to see the ‚BPA// Exhibition 2025 – A place never fully held‘ 💘

We had the pleasure of arranging the exhibition preview in early December. After an introduction by BPA’s co-founder Willem de Rooij, the curator Lara Scherrieble guided the group through the three exhibition venues: KW’s courtyard, front house, and Kunst Raum Mitte. The participating artists presented their works themselves to us – thank you for these inspiring insights! Special thanks to and 🥨🥂

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03/01/2026

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 🎊

While the Berlin Biennale will prepare its 14th edition for 2027, KW’s exhibition program will unfold in 2026 with solo exhibitions by Klara Lidén, Jean Katambayi Mukendi, Else Marie Pade, Susan Hiller, KOO YEONG A, Rafik Greiss, as well as the 6th Kyiv Biennial. We are ready for 2026! 🎉

As a member, you will receive the 2026 annual sticker to update your membership card. Enjoy free admission to KW and 10% discount on books, editions and merch in the KW Shop!

Get your own membership card with the shiny sticker by joining us – link in bio.

#2026

19/12/2025

STUDIO VISITS

This year, we had the pleasure of visiting the Berlin studios by and , as well as in Turin during our members’ trip to . We also met at his residency studio at KW. His new works will be presented in the upcoming solo exhibition at KW in spring 2026 – we can‘t wait!

We are deeply grateful to all the artists for welcoming us into their studios and look forward to seeing how their projects continue to unfold!

Would you like to join our studio visits, members’ trips and many more special events? Become our Friend and support and the . Memberships can also be gifted for Christmas 🎁 More information: www.kw-freunde.de

# berlinbiennale

18/12/2025

Members Trip to Torino 🇮🇹

In autumn 2025, KW Friends visited and Torino’s incredible Art Week. Among the institutional highlights were with stunning new work by . celebrated its 30th anniversary with an impressive collection survey. At we not only discovered works by , who we met at his studio afterwards, but also revisited works by that were once produced for his solo exhibition at KW in 2023 (proudly supported by us). At the fair, , , and .munder gave us insights into their well curated sections, and we were happy to see our member galleries , , and !

Grazie mille to and his amazing team for the very warm welcome. Heartfelt thanks to all artists, gallerists, and curators for sharing your inspiring work with us, and to everyone who joined! Arrivederci! ✨

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http://kw-freunde.de/

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