Galerie Karsten Greve is a set of European art galleries established by Karsten Greve that operates art exhibit spaces in Cologne (Germany), St. Moritz (Switzerland), and Paris (France). It specializes in postwar and contemporary art, representing around fifty artists. The gallery's programme is characterized by the international postwar avant-garde, but also includes photographers and Chinese contemporary artists, as well as other international young artists. The gallery publishes catalogue editions to accompany exhibitions as well as monographs and catalogues raisonneés.
History
Galerie Karsten Greve is owned and run by German art dealer and publisher Karsten Greve, who founded the original gallery in 1972 in Cologne, Germany. In 1989, Karsten Greve opened a second space in Paris, in 1994 a third location in Milan (closed 2002) and another in 1999 in St. Moritz.
Cologne
In 1970, Karsten Greve, together with Rolf Möllenhof (born 1939, Chemnitz), directed the Möllenhof/Greve Galerie. He founded his first own gallery in 1972 in its original Cologne Lindenstraße 20 Galeriehaus location, debuting with an Yves Klein solo exhibition of his Anthropometry series. In the same year, Galerie Karsten Greve presented at Art Basel for the first time. In 1973 Karsten Greve became the sole proprietor of Galerie Karsten Greve. In 1980 the gallery moved into the former space of Aenne Abels at Wallrafplatz 3 exhibiting Cy Twombly (1982), Lucio Fontana (1982 and 1983) and Willem de Kooning (1990) among others. The gallery expanded to what used to be Rudolf Zwirner's Albertusstraße 18 gallery space in 1992, designed by architect Erich Schneider-Wessling. The space was inaugurated with a John Chamberlain solo show, followed by Josef Albers (1996 and 1998), Cy Twombly (1997), Wols (1998), Louise Bourgeois (1999) and Jannis Kounellis (1999) exhibitions. Galerie Karsten Greve Cologne later moved to its main location, Drususgasse 1-5, in 2000. The lower floors of the 1950s landmark building, located in the centre of Cologne, were remodeled by French architect Yannis Tsiomis. The gallery still maintains its Wallrafplatz exhibition space to this day.
Paris
In 1989, Galerie Karsten Greve opened its Rue Debelleyme exhibition space in the Marais district of Paris, near the Musée Picasso. Since then the area has become a popular location for galleries and has undergone extensive redevelopments. The gallery space, situated in a 17th-century palais, built around a cour d’honneur, consists of a large main gallery and another smaller, three-storey exhibition space. Architect Yannis Tsiomis was responsible for remodeling the entire interior of the property.
In 2003, Galerie Karsten Greve Paris presented Pierre Soulages in a solo exhibition. Galerie Karsten Greve represents Pierre Soulages in France.
Milan
In 1994, Karsten Greve opened a third gallery space in the Via Santo Spirito in Milan in the historical city centre near Via Montenapoleone, dedicating the first show to Cy Twombly. Among the artists exhibited were Piero Manzoni, Lucio Fontana, Alberto Burri, Nicola de Maria, Osvaldo Licini, Francesco Lo Savio. and Mario Nigro. The space was closed in 2002.
St. Moritz
In 1999, Karsten Greve opened his fourth gallery space at Via Maistra 4 in St. Moritz, Switzerland, as one of the first in the region. The former Posthaus Hotel in which the gallery is located, was redesigned by British architect Norman Foster. Unlike other galleries in Engadin, it hosts exhibitions throughout most of the year.