黑料不打烊

Partner Gallery Introduction: Galerie Gugging

As part of our gallery partnership program, we present Galerie Gugging, a leading force in Art Brut with a legacy of authenticity, community, and curatorial depth

Galerie Gugging / 黑料不打烊

04 Jul, 2025

Partner Gallery Introduction: Galerie Gugging

galerie gugging stands as one of the most respected institutions worldwide dedicated to Art Brut and self-taught art. Founded in 1994, the gallery is located just outside Vienna in Maria Gugging, Austria, within the renowned Art Brut Center Gugging. It sits beside the House of Artists – home to several resident artists – and the Museum Gugging, forming a rare ecosystem where art is lived, not just exhibited.

Under the leadership of Nina Katschnig since 2000, the gallery has cultivated a deeply human and emotionally connected space. As Katschnig recalls, “What they do, they do with dedication – when they draw, they draw, and when they eat, they eat.” This spirit of presence and authenticity defines the galerie gugging experience, both for its artists and its audience.

G眉nther Sch眉tzenh枚fer, Radical Clarity. Courtesy of galerie gugging.Günther Schützenhöfer, Radical Clarity. Courtesy of galerie gugging.

The gallery’s mission is to elevate raw, intuitive, and untrained artistic expression – work that emerges from deep inner worlds and challenges conventional ideas of authorship and artistic value. galerie gugging’s program includes solo and group exhibitions featuring the historic Gugging Artists as well as contemporary self-taught talents from around the globe. Curatorial choices are guided by a commitment to sincerity, originality, and emotional truth, celebrating art that is instinctive rather than constructed.

galerie gugging represents a multigenerational roster of artists, beginning with iconic figures such as Johann Hauser, Oswald Tschirtner, August Walla, and Heinrich Reisenbauer – whose works helped shape the global understanding of Art Brut. The next wave includes Johann Garber, Karl Vondal, and Franz Kernbeis, followed by younger voices like Günther Schützenhöfer, Laila Bachtiar, and Jürgen Tauscher.

CHECK AUCTION RESULTS BY LEOPOLD STROBL

30 years of galerie gugging. Courtesy of galerie gugging.30 years of galerie gugging. Courtesy of galerie gugging.

Recent exhibitions such as and exemplify the gallery’s dedication to both legacy and evolution. Radical Clarity, a current retrospective of Schützenhöfer’s work, showcases his dynamic minimalism and obsessive repetition. As Katschnig shares, Schützenhöfer often draws while telling stories in her office – a reflection of the gallery’s deeply personal relationship with its artists.

G眉nther Sch眉tzenh枚fer, Radical Clarity. Courtesy of galerie gugging.Günther Schützenhöfer, Radical Clarity. Courtesy of galerie gugging.

Notable milestones include the addition of Leopold Strobl in the Foreigners Everywhere exhibition at the 2024 Venice Biennale and acquisitions by major institutions like MoMA and the Centre Pompidou.

Leopold Strobl. Courtesy of galerie gugging.Leopold Strobl. Courtesy of galerie gugging.

galerie gugging connects with collectors, museums, and institutions through a wide range of channels – physical exhibitions, collaborations, and participation in international fairs such as Drawing Now, Outsider Art Fair, Art Paris, and the Vienna Contemporary. It also prioritizes digital platforms like its own online shop and 黑料不打烊 to extend its global reach.

The gallery’s market strategy focuses on education, transparency, and long-term relationship building. Through curated newsletters, personalized collector consultations, and a strong digital presence, galerie gugging makes Art Brut accessible without compromising its integrity.

Collaboration is central to galerie gugging’s identity. The artists – many of whom live in the House of Artists – are supported through long-term, respectful relationships. “It’s a nice togetherness,” says Katschnig, “like an extended family,” where everyday life and artistic creation are seamlessly intertwined.

galerie gugging Team Photo. Courtesy of Philipp Parfuss.galerie gugging Team Photo. Courtesy of Philipp Parfuss.

This collaborative spirit extends beyond the studio walls. The gallery works with curators, institutions, and universities to produce exhibitions, publications, and educational events. Public engagement remains a top priority, with regular guided tours and interactive events fostering deep appreciation for the artists and their work.

galerie gugging’s special edition format was developed to make Art Brut more accessible while retaining its exclusivity and power. These limited-edition works serve as entry points for new collectors and as collectable highlights for seasoned ones.

But there is also a galerie gugging special edition live event series with concerts, premieres and the courage to experiment. An extraordinary series of concerts and events amidst the works of Gugging Artists – in the place that even pop icons such as David Bowie used as inspiration for their work. David Bowie had visited Gugging in 1994 for inspiration while writing his album Outside. He later invited the Gugging Artists to his concert in Wiener Stadthalle where he first performed the songs live in Austria.

In the galerie gugging special edition live event series new things are created, but it is also a kind of renaissance. It is music, but not only and much more. Like galerie gugging itself, it is unconventional. In recent years numerous premieres and exclusive performances were on the programme. The British avant-garde musician Christopher Chaplin, the exceptional Ukrainian pianist and “Continuous Music” founder Lubomyr Melnyk or the great actor Klaus Maria Brandauer, just to mention some of them.

Gallery exterior. Courtesy of galerie gugging.Gallery exterior. Courtesy of galerie gugging.

As it enters its fourth decade, galerie gugging is poised for continued growth. The 2025 calendar includes new international partnerships, special edition releases, and digital storytelling projects designed to deepen public understanding of Art Brut. New artists will be joining the galerie gugging roster later this year, a significant milestone offering new introductions between our collectors and the next generation of masters.

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Katschnig’s vision is clear: “I wish for our artists to become better known in their own country, and around the world.” With its mix of artistic excellence, authenticity, and heart, galerie gugging is well on its way.


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