Art history sometimes erases even the most successful women artists, leaving them in the shadow of their husbands. Brigitte Meier-Denninghoff (1923–2011), one of the most accomplished sculptors of the postwar era, unfortunately became a victim of this bitter truth. To correct this historical injustice, the Berlinische Galerie presents the artist’s Skulpturen und Zeichnungen (Sculptures and Drawings) 1946–1970.
Meier-Denninghoff’s career peaked in the 1950s and 1960s; her innovative metal sculptures earned great acclaim at documenta, the Venice Biennale, and the New York World’s Fair, along with major awards. The turning point came in 1970, when she and her husband Martin Matschinsky (1921–2020) formed the artist duo Matschinsky-Denninghoff. By establishing this partnership, they retroactively declared Brigitte Meier-Denninghoff’s earlier individual plastic works as joint creations.
As a result, the artist “disappeared from art history,” and her works were exhibited solely under the joint name. The sculptures in the exhibition, bearing the artist’s own signature, are being honored for the first time in over 50 years as an independent modern art position.
The exhibition was prepared through an evaluation of the couple’s artistic and documentary legacy. It uncovers the lost individual genius behind the Matschinsky-Denninghoff duo, best known for their monumental metal sculptures in the middle of Berlin’s Tauentzienstraße.
Art lovers can join a special curator tour led by Dr. Stefanie Heckmann, Head of the Art Collection, on November 24. Additionally, a major children’s opening (Große Kindervernissage) focusing on current exhibitions will take place on November 9.
Exhibition Information
- Artist: Brigitte Meier-Denninghoff
- Title: Skulpturen und Zeichnungen 1946–1970
- Venue: Berlinische Galerie, Berlin
- Dates: Continues until August 3, 2026
- Important Note: The artist’s individual works are being re-exhibited as an independent position for the first time in over 50 years.
