When does the exhibition take place?

The exhibition begins on April 25, 2026, at 11:00 AM and runs until July 19, 2026, according to the Fridericianum.

How much is the entrance fee?

The regular entrance fee at the Fridericianum is 6 Euros, reduced 4 Euros. Admission is free on Wednesdays.

Are there guided tours of the exhibition?

Yes, the Fridericianum regularly offers public tours. The dates are listed in the event calendar, and the costs are included in the entrance fee.

Is the Fridericianum accessible?

Yes, the building is as accessible as possible. There are ramps, two elevators, accessible restrooms, and loaner stools. Assistance dogs are allowed.

How do I get there by public transport?

The Fridericianum is located at the Friedrichsplatz stop in Kassel. Lines 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 stop there.

Are there educational and workshop offerings?

Yes, the museum offers individually designed tours and workshops for groups, school classes, and children.

Catherine Opie transforms the Fridericianum into a space of quiet power and memory

Name: Catherine Opie – The pause that dreams against erasure
Start: 2026-04-25T13:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-07-19T20:00:00+02:00
Location: Fridericianum

Catherine Opie at the Fridericianum: Photography as a Space for Identity, Memory, and Resistance

The Fridericianum presents The pause that dreams against erasure, the first institutional solo exhibition of Catherine Opie in Germany. The exhibition, specifically developed by the artist for the venue, places her works in a dense dialogue with the architecture and historical aura of the museum at Friedrichsplatz.

An Artistic Experience Between Portrait, Landscape, and Political Present

Opie's work has unfolded since the early 1990s as a precisely observed, profoundly humane exploration in photographs, films, art books, and installations. Key series from over three decades are on display: early portraits from LGBTQIA* communities, landscapes as resonant spaces of identity and trauma, and images of protests, including documentation of Black Lives Matter and marches against Donald Trump. This creates an exhibition atmosphere where personal biography and societal movements are inextricably intertwined.

Between Social Photography and Contemporary Imagery

Catherine Opie connects to the tradition of socially-oriented photography of the 20th century and updates it with great formal clarity. Her portrait photography works with closeness, dignity, and precision; her landscape photographs open up spaces for projection, belonging, and loss. It is precisely this combination of documentary accuracy and aesthetic condensation that makes her oeuvre one of the most influential positions of the present.

The Fridericianum as a Historical Resonant Space

The building itself enhances the impact of the exhibition: As one of the first public museums in the world and an internationally renowned art hall, the Fridericianum offers a context in which contemporary art, art history, and cultural education productively intersect. The presentation is not only a retrospective but also a curated invitation to re-examine societal influences, alternative life concepts, and the power of photographic images.

Education, Tours, and Visitor Experience

The Fridericianum accompanies its exhibitions with extensive educational and mediation offerings. Public tours, booked guided tours, and workshops offer different approaches to Opie's work and to central questions of representation, identity, and the public sphere. Those visiting this exhibition will not only experience significant contemporary photography but also a multifaceted artistic experience with high museum educational value.

Conclusion: An Exhibition That Lasts

The pause that dreams against erasure gathers impressive works that resonate long after their calmness and political sharpness. This exhibition demonstrates how photography shapes memory, makes community visible, and translates social reality into poetic images. A visit to the Fridericianum is definitely worthwhile – for all who want to not just see art but intensely experience it.