The 1980s gave us MTV, big hair and (in my case) a large number of hangovers. But at the more cerebral level, we also had The Bonfire of the Vanities and Raging Bull. And some rather important art: the My Generation exhibition has highlights.
- Draws on the prestigious collection put together by Rafael Jablonka
- Features the works of Hirst, Kelley, Fischl, Levine, and other greats
- Runs Oct 2, 2020 – Apr 5, 2021
- See also:
- Current modern art exhibitions in Vienna
The Jablonka collection
Eric Fischl, The Krefeld Project: The Bedroom. Scene 1, 2002, Öl auf Leinwand, ALBERTINA, Wien – The JABLONKA Collection © Eric Fischl / Bildrecht, Wien, 2020
In recent years, the Albertina has seen a couple of notable art collections find its way into its storage depots.
One example is the private art collection of Rafael Jablonka (b. 1952) with its focus on US and German works of the 1980s. Over 400 works now reside permanently at the museum under the auspices of the Rafael and Teresa Jablonka foundation.
As a renowned gallery owner, art dealer, and exhibition curator, Jablonka put together one of the most significant collections of its kind.
The My Generation exhibition at the Albertina allows us to enjoy representative highlights of the many acquisitions, with some 110 paintings, sculptures, and other works on display from 14 artists.
Enjoy art by such names as:
- Mike Kelley, the giant of contemporary US art through such projects as his Kandor works around the fictional Krypton city of Superman fame
- Andreas Slominski, the German artist perhaps best known for his trap works that explore the interface between sculpture and object
- Eric Fischl, whose pioneering representations of suburbia expose the darker reality that lurks beneath the image-conscious surface of modern life
- Sherrie Levine, photographer extraordinaire and pioneer of modern appropriation art. The exhibition includes, for example, her bronze reinterpretation of Marcel Duchamp’s hugely-influential readymade sculpture, Fountain
- Damien Hirst, the often-contentious British artist and Turner Prize winner who has been compared to the likes of Warhol and Pollock
Dates, tickets & tips
Admire the joys of the Jablonka collection from October 2nd, 2020 to April 5th, 2021.
An ordinary entrance ticket for the Albertina includes the exhibitions inside – no need to pay an extra fee to view your Levines and Kelleys. Same goes for entry with a sightseeing pass.
How to get to the exhibition
Check the main Albertina article for travel tips. The museum resides at the edge of the Hofburg palace complex and opposite the State Opera House, so belongs to the collection of visitor pleasures in the very centre of Vienna.
For other modern art delights in the city, may I point you at this overview of contemporary art in Vienna, with suggested museums, exhibition venues, and events (including, of course, the Albertina Modern – the Albertina’s dedicated location for the kind of art you see in the My Generation exhibition).
Address: Albertinaplatz 1, 1010 Vienna