When does the exhibition take place at Fridericianum?

The exhibition is on view from February 14, 2026, to July 19, 2026.

How much is the admission fee?

The regular admission fee is 6 euros, reduced 4 euros. Admission is free on Wednesdays.

Are there guided tours?

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

Is the museum accessible for people with disabilities?

Yes, Fridericianum considers itself an open house. People with a degree of disability greater than 50 percent pay 4 euros, while accompanying persons with the designation B receive free admission.

How do I get there by public transport?

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

Can I bring assistance dogs?

Yes, assistance dogs are permitted throughout the building.

Catherine Opie transforms photography into a silent, political art experience

Name: Catherine Opie: The pause that dreams against erasure
Start: 2026-02-14T12:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-07-19T20:00:00+02:00
Location: Fridericianum

Catherine Opie at Fridericianum: Photography as a Memory Space of the Present

With The pause that dreams against erasure, Fridericianum in Kassel presents the first institutional solo exhibition of Catherine Opie in Germany. The presentation, conceived specifically by the artist for the historic building, connects a precise examination of the works with an intense exhibition atmosphere: Portraits, landscapes, film works, and installations enter into a dialogue with architecture, history, and the present.

An Art Experience Between Intimacy and Social Vastness

Opie has been one of the defining voices in contemporary photography since the early 1990s. Her images open spaces for identity, belonging, and self-determination. Early portraits from LGBTQIA* communities meet series that read landscape not as a backdrop, but as a resonance space for hope, vulnerability, and trauma. This creates an art experience that combines emotional immediacy with clear art historical reflection.

Photography, Film, and Installation in Precise Curation

The exhibition brings together key bodies of work from over three decades, showcasing how consistently Opie has developed her visual language. Her works connect to the tradition of socially oriented photography of the 20th century and expand it with a contemporary, empathetic perspective. The proximity to documentary strategies, the rigor of composition, and the psychological depth of the portraits create a rare density, which is rarely achieved in major museum presentations.

Political Presence and Aesthetic Experience

Particularly impressive are the works in which Opie makes collective movements and public forms of protest visible. Black Lives Matter, the confrontation with the presidency of Donald Trump, and the question of social influences are not treated illustratively, but visually complex. This is precisely where the strength of this exhibition lies: It transforms political reality into an aesthetic experience without diminishing its urgency.

Fridericianum as a Venue for Lively Art Education

Fridericianum brings its special role as a place for contemporary art, cultural education, and public communication to this exhibition. Regular tours, workshops, and educational offerings open additional accesses to the examination of the works. The historic building itself also becomes part of the narrative: Spaces, lines of sight, and lighting conditions structure perception and deepen the art experience.

Conclusion

This exhibition presents Catherine Opie as an artist of international standing, whose photographs raise questions of identity, memory, and freedom with great formal clarity. Anyone who wants to experience contemporary art in all its intellectual and sensual power should definitely visit this presentation at Fridericianum live.