Stefanie Böttcher named new director Kunsthalle zu Kiel at Christian Albrecht University

#announcement #Appointed curator

The Kunsthalle zu Kiel at Kiel University (CAU) is pleased to share that Stefanie Böttcher has been appointed as its next director. She will assume the role in September 2026.

Situated on the Baltic Sea, the Kunsthalle zu Kiel occupies a distinctive position in northern Germany. Since 1971, it has operated as an independent institution of Kiel University and also houses the Schleswig-Holstein Art Association, founded in 1843. Its collection is notable for its strengths in 19th-century art, expressionism, and international contemporary art.

“We are very proud of this cultural flagship, which combines research and teaching with social transfer and at the same time enriches the cultural life of the city of Kiel and the state of Schleswig-Holstein. I am very pleased that, with Ms Böttcher, we are entering and shaping an exciting new phase for this special institution.” says Claudia Ricarda Meyer, Chancellor of Kiel University.

Böttcher’s appointment marks an important moment for the university, the city, and the state. Although the Kunsthalle is currently closed for renovation, it will continue its activities at external venues. When it reopens, it aims to re-emerge as a dynamic site for art, scholarship, and public engagement, equipped to meet contemporary needs while affirming its significance on both regional and national levels.

“We are leaving our traditional walls behind in order to breathe new life into our connection with the city and its residents. I am very much looking forward to the challenges and opportunities this period will bring, and the many artistic voices that will resound in public spaces and in society. Furthermore, I am thrilled about the location of an art museum by the sea, which is unique in Germany. The sea is a space for meditation, communication and transit, and a place where geological and climatic upheavals are evident. It forms a microcosm in which contemporary changes are taking place and which is not isolated but connected to the whole world. A location on the periphery suddenly transforms into a hub where the questions and conflicts of our time converge. I am excited to discover and utilise the effects of this location – both in terms of content and structure.” says Böttcher.

Born in 1978, Stefanie Böttcher is an art historian and curator. Since 2015, she has led the Kunsthalle Mainz, where she has realised solo exhibitions with Rabih Mroué, Lara Favaretto, Joachim Koester, Latifa Echakhch and Walid Raad, among others. She has also developed group exhibitions exploring themes such as airspace, human and natural rights, and digital environments. In 2017, she curated the Icelandic Pavilion at the Biennale Arte di Venezia. From 2007 to 2013, she served as artistic director at Künstler:innenhaus Bremen, presenting early solo exhibitions in Germany for emerging international artists including Lara Almarcegui, Ahmet Öğüt and Kateřina Šedá. Her work as guest curator has included projects at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Belgrade and the Museum of Contemporary Art Novi Sad. Böttcher is also a regular contributor of writing on artists and contemporary art topics.