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Vernissage: „STATES OF BECOMING“ Sammlung Cserni
With works by: Herbert Brandl, Franz Cserni, Karl Karner, Maria Lassnig, Otto Mühl, Franz West, Clemens Wolf, and Heimo Zobernig
Introduction: Martin Cserni and Prof. Claus Friede Exhibition period: March 7 – May 22, 2026 Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 5:00–8:00 pm, and during office hours by prior telephone appointment
The Cserni Collection focuses on Austrian art since the 1960s, with an emphasis on painting and sculpture. Through his own engagement with painting, Franz Cserni sharpened his view of contemporary art and passed his passion for art on to his son Martin. Over more than 30 years, the two have built a collection of over 350 works and created a more than 600 m² exhibition space in Styria, which serves as a permanent venue for the collection.
The fascination of engaging with art on a daily basis allows the works to be viewed repeatedly in new contexts, keeping the collection “alive.” Neither a purely academic approach nor a speculative view of market-established art motivates the collectors; rather, it is personal experience, emotional impact, and being addressed by the artwork itself, as well as encounters with the artists. It is this personal perspective that defines the profile of the collection.
Introduction: Martin Cserni and Prof. Claus Friede Exhibition period: March 7 – May 22, 2026 Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 5:00–8:00 pm, and during office hours by prior telephone appointment
The Cserni Collection focuses on Austrian art since the 1960s, with an emphasis on painting and sculpture. Through his own engagement with painting, Franz Cserni sharpened his view of contemporary art and passed his passion for art on to his son Martin. Over more than 30 years, the two have built a collection of over 350 works and created a more than 600 m² exhibition space in Styria, which serves as a permanent venue for the collection.
The fascination of engaging with art on a daily basis allows the works to be viewed repeatedly in new contexts, keeping the collection “alive.” Neither a purely academic approach nor a speculative view of market-established art motivates the collectors; rather, it is personal experience, emotional impact, and being addressed by the artwork itself, as well as encounters with the artists. It is this personal perspective that defines the profile of the collection.
