Portikus is an institution for contemporary art in Frankfurt am Main. Since its foundation in 1987 and as a fundamental element of the renowned art academy Hochschule für Bildende Künste – Städelschule, Portikus is dedicated to exhibit, publish and discuss young and emerging as well as established artists and their work.
PORTIKUS
Alte Brücke 2 / Maininsel
D–60594 Frankfurt/Main
T +49 69 962 4454-0
F +49 69 962 4454-24
info(at)portikus.de
Tuesday–Friday 12–19h
Saturday, Sunday 11–19h
Monday closed
Admission free.
TEAM
Director: Barbara Clausen
Curators: Carina Bukuts, Juliane Bischoff
Project Coordination: Claudia Famulok & Jacqueline Jakobi
Press: Claudia Famulok
Portikus is permanently funded by the City of Frankfurt Department for Culture.
From 2022-2026, Portikus is funded by the Hessian Ministry of Science and Art.
The newly constructed building of the Portikus on the Maininsel, completed in 2006, was financed by the non-profit foundation STIFTUNG GIERSCH.
In 2025, THE FLAG became an official cooperation partner of Portikus.
PERMANENT ARTWORK
Ólafur Elíasson
Light lab (1/12), 2006
From the series Light lab, 2006–2008
Light installation
Monofrequency lights, wood
7.06 × 14.6 m
Photograph: Diana Pfammatter
Collection of the MUSEUM MMK FÜR MODERNE KUNST
Acquired with the generous support of Helaba Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen
Restored in 2021 with the generous support of the Wüstenrot Stiftung
Ólafur Elíasson’s Light lab is a permanent light installation that has shaped the glass gable roof of Portikus since its move to the Maininsel in 2006. At dusk, a luminous arc appears on the north side, its reflection in the River Main evoking a setting sun. Originally conceived as the series Light Lab (1–12), the work changed twelve times over the first two years, each in a different color spectrum. Today, it radiates a deep yellow hue (Light Lab, Test 1) and has become a distinctive landmark of Frankfurt. The work unites Eliasson’s ongoing interest in light, perception, and space with a simple, poetic gesture. It invites passers-by to pause, look up, and reflect on the significance of light—both as an everyday natural phenomenon and as a resource that is not universally available.
HOW TO FIND US
Portikus is located on the Main Island, which can be reached via the Alte Brücke (Old Bridge), between the bus stops Schöne Aussicht and Elisabethenstraße and the subway stops Konstablerwache and Schweizer Platz. Portikus has no parking spaces. If you arrive by car, we recommend the parking garages Dom-Römer (Domstraße 1) or Alt-Sachsenhausen (Walter-Kolb-Straße 16).
ACCESSIBILITY
The main exhibition space of Portikus is accessible at ground level. The lower gallery is only accessible via a staircase. Barrier-free toilets are available. Visits with an assistance dog are permitted.
DIRECTORS
Kasper König, 1987–2001
Daniel Birnbaum, 2001–2010
Nikolaus Hirsch, 2010–2014
Philippe Pirotte, 2014–2020
Yasmil Raymond, 2020-2024
CURATORS
Ulrich Wilmes, 1988–1991
Martin Hentschel, 1991–1993
Brigitte Kölle, 1994–1997
Angelika Nollert, 1998–2000
Jochen Volz, 2001–2004
Nikola Dietrich, 2004–2007
Melanie Ohnemus, 2007–2010
Sophie von Olfers, 2010–2014
Fabian Schöneich, 2014(October)–2018
Christina Lehnert, 2018–2022
Liberty Adrien, 2022–2025 (June)
STÄDELSCHULE PORTIKUS E.V.
The association Städelschule Portikus e.V. aims to support the Städelschule and its students under the motto: Supporting art today means investing in the intelligence of tomorrow’s society. The Association supports not only the academic curriculum of the Städelschule but also the exhibition programme of Portikus. More information.
PORTFOLIOS
We regret that Portikus is unable to review or accept unsolicited artists' submissions.
LEGAL INFORMATION
Portikus makes every effort to ensure that the contents of its website are up-to-date and correct. It does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided (especially price information). The contents are subject to change; errors and omissions excepted. All content of the website as well as its graphic and conceptual arrangement are subject to the copyright of Portikus and the respective authors and may not be copied or used without express written consent. Installation view images were, unless stated otherwise, photographed by Diana Pfammatter, Helena Schlichting, or Wolfgang Günzel.
We also explicitly oppose the use of e-mail addresses published on this website for the purposes of sending unsolicited advertising by e-mail (so-called “spam”). References to outside content (hyperlinks) do not constitute appropriation of this outside content as defined by law. Our website may include links to other websites on the Internet; we have no influence whatsoever on any of these links. We thus explicitly distance ourselves herewith from all contents of linked websites. The authors of outside HTML documents referred to by this website are solely responsible for the contents of their respective documents. This declaration applies to all links displayed on this website and, if applicable, to all contents of websites that can be accessed by banners.
Design: Ronnie Fueglister
Realisation: Systemantics
