When can I visit the exhibition?

The exhibition runs from February 14, 2026, to July 19, 2026. On May 3, 2026, visits are possible starting at 11 AM.

How much is the admission?

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

Are there guided tours?

Yes, the Fridericianum offers public guided tours. The dates are listed in the event calendar of the house and are included in the admission.

Is the museum barrier-free?

Yes, the building has a ramp, two elevators, and accessible restrooms. Service dogs are allowed.

How do I get to the Fridericianum?

The museum is located at Friedrichsplatz in Kassel. The tram stop Friedrichsplatz is nearby, and parking is available in an underground garage in the area.

Can I take photos in the museum?

There are no conclusive details available in the verified sources. Please observe the house rules on site.

Catherine Opie Transforms the Fridericianum into a Quiet Archive of the Present

Name: Catherine Opie: The Pause That Dreams Against Erasure
Start: 2026-05-03T13:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-07-19T20:00:00+02:00
Location: Fridericianum

Catherine Opie at the Fridericianum: Photography as a Powerful Archive of Identity and Present

With The Pause That Dreams Against Erasure, the Fridericianum presents the first institutional solo exhibition of Catherine Opie in Germany. The presentation conceived for Kassel unfolds an impressive art experience between portrait photography, landscape imagery, political documentation, and site-specific installation.

A Historical Place Meets a Precise Visual Language

Opie's works enter into a direct dialogue with the architecture of the Fridericianum. The historical building, itself a place of art historical density, becomes a resonance space for an exhibition that addresses questions of self-image, belonging, and societal shaping with great clarity. The atmosphere of the exhibition thrives on contrasts: intimate portraits, wide landscapes, and documentary sequences open different levels of artwork contemplation.

Art Groups Over Three Decades

Key groups of works from over thirty years will be shown. Earlier portraits from LGBTIQ* contexts mark the beginning of an artistic practice that understands visibility not as a buzzword but as an aesthetic and political stance. Later series explore landscapes as projection surfaces for identity, hope, and vulnerability. This is supplemented by images from protests and movements such as Black Lives Matter, as well as photographic documents from the context of Donald Trump's presidency.

Photography as Social Analysis

Catherine Opie draws on traditions of socially-oriented photography from the 20th century and updates them with a distinctive, sensitive visual language. Her works combine formal rigor with emotional density. This is precisely where her significance for contemporary art lies: Opie not only shows people and situations but also asks how biographies are formed, how norms operate, and how alternative life plans can become visible.

Cultural Education and Accompanying Program

The Fridericianum accompanies the exhibition with an extensive educational offering. Public tours, studio workshops, and further formats are aimed at various age groups and open access to contemporary art in an illustrative way. This makes the exhibition visit an aesthetic experience that connects knowledge, perception, and discussion.

Visit with Insight

For those who want to experience Catherine Opie in the original, the Fridericianum offers a concentrated, demanding, and at the same time accessible exhibition. This exhibition invites a reconsideration of photography as an art form, time document, and societal memory. A visit is absolutely worthwhile – for all who seek depth in contemporary art.