Galerie Art204

Profile

The commercial gallery owner - according to the findings oft he cultural sociologist Hans Peter Thurn - has a "three-fold gate-Keeper function" in deciding on the market value andsocial relevance of art as well as the cultural value of artworks. "His forte is the exchange of rare artistic objects for a surplus of financial means, the translation of cultural value into market price, the interplay between art producers and buyers, the to and fro between artists and collectors."

Managing the manifold requirements at this naturally cerebral social interface, the Düsseldorf gallery owners Brigitte and Manfred Schmidt have succeeded admirably. Their gallery ART204 was founded in 1980 and has been managed jointly to date - alertness, curiosity and self-confident flexibility had led them towards the erratic territory oft his high-risk profession. In the previous decade numerous contacts to artists of all fields formed a promising foundation. With the gallerists' enduring artistic competence, their personal and amicable manner and, of course, the indispensable economic background of both partners the gallery has prospered as an important institution.
The programme of the gallery ART204 does not follow the (pseudo) principle of arbitrary diversity and is not conveniently commercial. Instead it is governed by a strictly targeted choice of artists, selected solely on the basis of quality. Nevertheless, this results in a carefully chosen range of quite different stylistic positions, which manage to satisfy the sophisticated collector (as weIl as the fastidious art critic). Among others the following artists have been shown repeatedly in extensive solo exhibitions:

the sensitive drawings and multi-faceted original graphic works of Rolf Sackenheim (born in Koblenz in 1921, lives in Düsseldorf)

the delicate, colour-experimental paintings by Edgar Hofsehen (born in Tapiau in Ostpreussen in 1941, lives in Hückeswagen)

the suprising and cryptic panel paintings of Justo Gonzalez Bravo (born in Badajoz/Spain in 1944, lives in Lisbon )

the startling, realistic paintings, ink drawings, water-colours and sculptures by Franta (born in Trebic/Czech Republic in 1930, lives in Vence/France).

Catalogues or books (in several volumes) have been published about these artists. Portfolios and other information can be obtained through the gallery

In addition the gallery offers an exclusive selection of classic modern and contemporary works of art:

an abstract composition by Serge Poliakoff for example, an ironic multiple by Max Ernst or an oscillating wire object by Günter Haese - the collector can always find a wide range of artworks by highly reputable artists on offer.

The gallery, run by married couple Brigitte and Manfred Schmidt, is infused by their uncompromising commitment to art, their high respect for the artists they deal with, and a sound sense of responsibility towards their collectors. Their friendly sincerity ensures that buying art from gallery ART204 does not entaiI any financial hazards (as far as that can at all be predicted), which a loyal clientele have come to appreciate. In the end, however, an acquaintance with art remains an adventure of the mind.