“HER. un/seen” — The Story of the Women Who Broke the Masculine Walls of the Malkasten Artists’ Association

In the first weeks of 2026, Berlin is witnessing yet another historical “act of restitution.” At the Deutscher Künstlerbund on Markgrafenstraße, we are brought to a turning point in a story that stretches from the 19th century to the present but has long remained one-sided: “HER. un/seen.”

This exhibition is not merely an art selection; it is the story of the women who shattered the masculine walls of the legendary Malkasten Artists’ Association—founded in Düsseldorf in 1848, yet only opening its doors to women artists 129 years later, in 1977.

From Invisible to Visible: The Women of Malkasten (1977–1997)

Organised on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the re-founding of the Deutscher Künstlerbund, this exhibition addresses the theme of “Equality” in its most concrete—and sometimes most poignant—form. Focusing on the first twenty years following the 1977 statute change that admitted women, the show brings to light, for the first time in such comprehensive depth, the wide spectrum of women artists who joined the Malkasten.

Key Layers of the Exhibition

• Rediscoveries: Works drawn from museum storerooms, private collections, and artists’ estates bring many previously unseen names to the centre of Berlin’s art scene.
• Living Memory: Video interviews with artists who have been members since the 1980s allow us to hear first-hand accounts of the atmosphere of the time and the struggles fought.
• Intergenerational Dialogue: One of the most exciting parts of the exhibition features new works created by three young women artists from the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf circle, each responding to three historical positions in the show. This creates a living space of discussion that demonstrates how art not only reflects the past but actively transforms the present.

Why You Should See It

Whether you are looking at Ilna Ewers-Wunderwald’s delicate feather drawings (1928) or listening to contemporary video interviews, the exhibition traces the path of “belatedness” but also of “determination.” This project is the first interim station of an intensive archival research effort that began in spring 2024 and is still ongoing. What we see here is therefore a fragment of a chapter in Berlin’s and Germany’s art history that is still being written.

With the exhibition closing soon (3 February), hurry to experience this quiet revolution in Berlin in person. Seeing how art has transcended institutional boundaries will give you a fresh perspective on the city.

Exhibition Title: HER. un/seen. Künstlerinnen im Malkasten 1977–1997

Venue: Deutscher Künstlerbund, Markgrafenstraße 67, Berlin

Closing Date: 3 February 2026

Curators / Initiative: Myriam Thyes & Eva Maria Schaller