When does the exhibition take place?

The exhibition will be on view from April 18, 2026 to July 19, 2026 at the Fridericianum in Kassel.

How much is the admission?

Regular admission is €6, reduced €4. Admission is free on Wednesdays.

Is the exhibition accessible for people with disabilities?

Yes, the Fridericianum offers accessible entrances, elevators, and wheelchair-accessible restrooms. Accompanying persons with appropriate documentation receive free admission.

Are there guided tours of the exhibition?

Yes, public guided tours take place regularly. The costs are included in the admission.

How do I get to the Fridericianum?

The museum is located at Friedrichsplatz 18 in Kassel and can be reached by tram lines 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 to the Friedrichsplatz stop.

Is photography allowed?

There are no verified details available in the provided web sources. Please pay attention to the notices on-site.

Catherine Opie in Kassel: Experience Photography, Identity, and Resistance at the Fridericianum

Name: Catherine Opie "The pause that dreams against erasure"
Start: 2026-04-18T13:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-07-19T20:00:00+02:00
Location: Fridericianum

Catherine Opie at Fridericianum: Photography as a testament to identity and resistance

The Fridericianum presents The Pause That Dreams Against Erasure, the first institutional solo exhibition of Catherine Opie in Germany. The exhibition, conceived by the artist as a site-specific installation, unfolds more than 70 works from over three decades and brings together photographs, films, art books, and installations in an intense dialogue with the architecture and history of the building. ([fridericianum.org](https://fridericianum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/260129_Pressemappe_CO_EN.pdf))

Between portrait, landscape, and documentation

Opie has been working since the early 1990s with a visual language that not only depicts social reality but also questions it. Her early portraits from queer communities, inspired by the Renaissance, combine formal rigor with great psychological presence. Landscapes in her work do not appear merely as nature motifs but as resonant spaces for identity, hope, and trauma. ([fridericianum.org](https://fridericianum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/260129_Pressemappe_CO_EN.pdf))

Photography as a social testimony

The exhibition alludes to documentary works related to Black Lives Matter and to protests in the context of Donald Trump's presidency. Thus, Opie's work stands in the tradition of socially engaged photography that draws on Lewis Hine, Robert Frank, Diane Arbus, and Dorothea Lange and carries this stance into the present. ([fridericianum.org](https://fridericianum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/260129_Pressemappe_CO_EN.pdf))

An art experience in a historical space

The spatial setting is particularly impressive: The Fridericianum sees itself as one of the oldest public museums in Europe, and Opie's works respond directly to this history. The art experience thrives on the tension between light, image surface, and space, between biographical closeness and political vastness. This creates an exhibition that connects aesthetic experience and cultural education in a rarely dense way. ([fridericianum.org](https://fridericianum.org/about/))

Conclusion

Anyone wanting to experience photographic contemporary art with historical depth will find one of the most important exhibitions of the year in Kassel here. Catherine Opie opens a space for artwork contemplation, social reflection, and intense image encounter. A visit to the Fridericianum is definitely worthwhile. ([fridericianum.org](https://fridericianum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/260129_Pressemappe_CO_EN.pdf))