Marc Brandenburg: 20th Century Debris — The Painter Big Brother of Berghain at Berlinische Galerie

• VENUE: Berlinische Galerie, Berlin
• DATES: Now open → September 14, 2026
• TAGS: Contemporary Drawing • Nightlife & Subculture • Blacklight Experience

More than 100 drawings, a multitude of temporary tattoos, whites glowing in the dark, and an art night that Warhol would definitely approve of. If you don’t know Marc Brandenburg yet, now is the perfect time to fix that.

Marc Brandenburg is one of those names: everyone in Berlin knows him, but he has not yet fully received the recognition he deserves on the international stage. Yet, what he does is the product of a practice with a completely unique and highly distinct language. He translates black-and-white graphic drawings, pop culture, the electronic music scene, punk Berlin, and queer identity all into a single, unified discourse.

This retrospective at the Berlinische Galerie brings together over 100 of his drawings, and the central room is truly unforgettable: under purple ultraviolet light, Brandenburg’s drawings become three-dimensional. The white ink on black backgrounds suddenly takes on a vibrant glow. When you read about it, you might just think, ‘Oh, that’s nice,’ but standing in front of it is an entirely different experience.

His most legendary project is this: special editions from his temporary tattoo series, which he has been running since 2002, are available as part of the exhibition. This means you can carry a Brandenburg drawing not just in your memory, but directly on your skin. Warhol would absolutely approve of this gesture.

Moreover, have you heard about the Brandenboogie night on June 26? As part of the exhibition program, Brandenburg himself takes over the DJ booth, allowing you to get a temporary tattoo while listening to the music. A night where the artist himself is playing, and at the Berlinische Galerie no less. This city is truly from another planet sometimes.

A final note: those who finish this exhibition shouldn’t wander around looking for what else is in the building—turn straight back to Marc’s drawings. You see entirely different things on the second round.

Exhibition Details:

• Artist: Marc Brandenburg
• Exhibition Title: 20th Century Debris
• Venue: Berlinische Galerie, Berlin
• Closing Date: September 14, 2026
• Special Event: Brandenboogie (Live DJ Set by the artist & interactive tattoo performance) – June 26, 2026