When can I see the Charles Ray exhibition at Fridericianum?

The exhibition can be seen from August 22, 2026, to January 3, 2027.

How much is the admission fee?

The regular admission fee is 6 Euros. The reduced admission is 4 Euros; students and trainees pay 2 Euros.

When is Fridericianum open?

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

Are there guided tours of the exhibition available?

Fridericianum offers regular public guided tours included in the admission price. Additionally, individual tours and workshops can be booked.

Is the exhibition suitable for children?

The exhibition contains depictions of nudity. The work Oh! Charley, Charley, Charley… is recommended by Fridericianum for visitors aged 16 and older.

Is Fridericianum accessible for people with disabilities?

Fridericianum has accessible toilets and a barrier-free washroom with a bench and lifting device. The staff is happy to assist visitors on site.

Charles Ray in Kassel: How Sculpture Changes Space, Body, and Perception

Name: Charles Ray
Start: 2026-10-03T11:00:00+02:00
End: 2027-01-03T18:00:00+01:00
Location: Fridericianum

Charles Ray at Fridericianum: Sculpture as an Intense Spatial Experience

From August 22, 2026, to January 3, 2027, the Fridericianum in Kassel dedicates its first institutional solo exhibition in Germany to the American sculptor Charles Ray. The exhibition visit leads to a concentrated art experience, where physicality, scale, material, and space merge into a compelling aesthetic experience.

Sculpture between Body, Space, and Art History

Charles Ray, born in 1953 in Chicago and living in Los Angeles since 1981, is one of the significant sculptors of our time. For over five decades, he has been exploring the contemporary world, questions of human physicality, and ideas of spirituality through the means of sculpture. His artistic practice expands the possibilities of sculpture through conceptual precision, complex manufacturing processes, and exceptional attention to proportion, dimension, and mass.

When Sculpture Consists of Space

Ray's works deal with art history, the genesis of art, and its installation in space. For the artist, a sculpture that is embedded in a space must consist of space itself. In this apparent paradox lies a key to his work: the objects are not isolated in the museum but alter the perception of their surroundings. Their range extends from a few grams to nearly twenty tons.

An Exhibition with Physical Presence

The exhibition atmosphere of the Fridericianum makes weight, surface, distance, and scale immediately tangible. Visitors encounter an art that is not only looked at but physically experienced. Light, spatial effects, and the precisely set positions of the works direct the gaze to the relationship between object and architecture. This creates an aesthetic experience where modern and contemporary art history connects with immediate sensory perception.

Charles Ray and Kassel

After his participation in documenta 9 in 1992, Charles Ray returns to Kassel with this exhibition. The Fridericianum thus ties into the international significance of the city as a place of contemporary art. The curation opens access to a sculpture that connects societal reality, media culture, and fundamental questions of human existence.

Notes for the Exhibition Visit

The exhibition contains depictions of nudity. The work Oh! Charley, Charley, Charley… suggests a virtual sexual act. The Fridericianum recommends viewing this work from the age of 16. Public guided tours take place regularly and are included in the admission price. Individual tours and workshops can be booked for groups, students, children, and other target audiences.

Conclusion: Experience Sculpture as a Space for Thought

Charles Ray at the Fridericianum promises an intense encounter with international contemporary art and a sculpture that not only fills space but makes it newly experienceable. Art enthusiasts will discover an exhibition that lies between physicality, art history, and spatial perception. Those who want to experience the aesthetic experience of sculpture directly should visit this exhibition live in Kassel.