# Julia Stoschek Foundation Reopens Düsseldorf Headquarters with Major Anniversary Exhibition

The foundation marks its 20th anniversary with a curated exhibition exploring identity and intimacy.

- **Source:** [ARTnews](https://www.artnews.com)
- **Published:** 2026-11-10
- **Topic:** [culture](https://brifing.si/c/culture)
- **Original article:** <https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/julia-stoschek-collection-selfish-in-bed-20th-anniversary-1234805311/>
- **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/766f1dab-b305-4fa0-b2bc-ce8a878ecb1d

## Düsseldorf Headquarters Reopening

The Julia Stoschek Foundation will reopen its Düsseldorf headquarters on April 10, 2027, following extensive renovations that began in April 2025. This industrial building, originally dating to 1907, was redesigned by Berlin firm Kuehn Malvezzi. The reopening coincides with the foundation's 20th anniversary, signaling a strategic shift toward consolidating operations in Düsseldorf.

## Strategic Realignment of Operations

The foundation closed its Berlin exhibition space in October 2026 after a decade of programming that hosted 22 exhibitions and 500,000 visitors. This closure is part of a strategic realignment aimed at focusing on the Düsseldorf headquarters and international projects. The goal is to make the extensive collection accessible to a global audience.

## The Selfish in Bed Exhibition

Curated by Krist Gruijthuijsen, the inaugural exhibition titled Selfish in Bed features 52 works by 43 artists. It draws its name from Sarah Lucas’s 2000 self-portrait, Selfish in Bed II. The show examines how individuals construct identities, express sexuality, and present themselves to the world, using the bed as a central thematic starting point.

## Diverse Artistic Perspectives

The exhibition includes significant works by artists such as Tracey Emin, Bill Viola, Wolfgang Tillmans, and Bruce Nauman. Pieces like Emin’s Why I Never Became a Dancer and Monica Bonvicini’s Destroy She Said explore complex relationships with bodies and domestic roles. Several works in this selection have never been exhibited by the foundation before.

## Immersive Spatial Design

Spanning two floors, the exhibition utilizes video projections, mirrored surfaces, and glass walls to create an immersive environment. These installations aim to reflect the contradictions of the bed as both a private, vulnerable space and a site of digital interconnection. The layout encourages visitors to engage deeply with the presented time-based media works.

## Focus on Time-Based Art

The Julia Stoschek collection now encompasses over 1,000 works by more than 300 artists. It primarily focuses on time-based art, including video, film, moving-image installations, multimedia, performance, sound, and virtual reality. This specialized collection highlights the evolution of contemporary artistic expression from the late 1960s through to the present digital age.

## Collector’s Vision and Legacy

Julia Stoschek describes herself as an emotional collector who seeks images that stay with her. Reflecting on two decades of collecting, she emphasizes the joy of welcoming new audiences. The anniversary will be accompanied by a publication featuring contributions from writers and critics including Rachel Cusk, Chris Kraus, Dean Kissick, and McKenzie Wark.

## Exhibition Schedule and Impact

The exhibition will run from April 10 through December 19, 2027, with an opening reception scheduled for April 9. By centering the anniversary on these themes of identity and digital tension, the foundation reinforces its commitment to contemporary discourse. This event marks a new chapter for the institution’s long-term cultural presence in Düsseldorf.

## Sources covering this story

- [ARTnews — Julia Stoschek Collection Marks 20th Anniversary with Düsseldorf Exhibition](https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/julia-stoschek-collection-selfish-in-bed-20th-anniversary-1234805311/)
- [The Art Newspaper — Julia Stoschek Foundation to Reopen Dusseldorf Headquarters in 2027](https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2026/11/11/julia-stoschek-foundation-to-reopen-dusseldorf-headquarters-in-2027)

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_Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._
