How long is the exhibition running?

The exhibition is on display at Fridericianum from February 14, 2026, to July 19, 2026.

What are the opening hours?

Fridericianum is open Tuesday to Sunday and on public holidays from 11 AM to 6 PM, Thursdays until 8 PM.

What is the admission fee?

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

Are there guided tours and workshops?

Yes, Fridericianum offers public tours as well as booked guided tours and workshops for groups and school classes.

Is the building accessible?

Yes, access is possible via an external ramp and two elevators. There are accessible restrooms and assistance available on site.

How do I get there by public transport?

Take lines 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 8 to the Friedrichsplatz stop. The building is located in immediate proximity to the stop.

Catherine Opie at Fridericianum: Photography, Identity, and Political Memory

Name: Catherine Opie – The pause that dreams against erasure
Start: 2026-05-28T13:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-05-28T20:00:00+02:00
Location: Fridericianum

Catherine Opie at Fridericianum: A photographic reflection on visibility, identity, and presence

With The pause that dreams against erasure, Fridericianum presents the first institutional solo exhibition by Catherine Opie in Germany. The presentation, specially developed by the artist for the institution, combines precise photography, installation elements, and art historical depth into an intense artistic experience in the historic building at Friedrichsplatz.

A dialogue with architecture and memory

Opie's works engage in a consciously designed exchange with the neoclassical architecture of the Fridericianum. This dialogue sharpens the perception of spatial impact, image arrangement, and the quiet tension between historical spaces and contemporary art. The exhibition atmosphere unfolds as a concentrated viewing of works, where each image is readable as a trace of biography, community, and social experience.

Portraits, landscapes, protest

Key works from more than three decades are displayed. The early portrait photographs from LGBTQIA+ communities mark the beginning of an oeuvre that takes questions of belonging, self-image, and representation radically seriously. Landscape series expand this perspective with expansiveness, light, and psychological resonance, while documentation of Black Lives Matter and protest marches makes the political dimension of photography visible.

Photography as testimony

Since the early 1990s, Catherine Opie has been developing a complex body of work comprising photographs, films, art books, and installations. Her visual language combines documentary accuracy with poetic condensation. In doing so, she connects to socially engaged photography of the 20th century and updates this tradition for a present in which visibility, identity, and social shaping are being renegotiated.

Cultural education and mediation

Fridericianum stands for a curated exhibition program with a strong focus on mediation and education. Public tours, workshops, and offerings for school classes open additional access to Opie's work. Particularly for art enthusiasts who wish to experience contemporary photography in an art historical context, the exhibition offers a clear invitation for deeper engagement.

Conclusion

The pause that dreams against erasure promises an exhibition of extraordinary relevance and aesthetic precision. Those who appreciate photography as an art form, social testimony, and space for aesthetic experience should definitely experience this presentation live at Fridericianum.