About
BERLIN MASTERS is a promotional platform for artists under the age of 33 who live and work in Berlin. Initiated by international art expert Matthias Arndt in 2013, the BERLIN MASTERS exhibition is held annually in various prominent locations throughout Berlin and is open to the public for approximately 2 weeks. The exhibition is curated by Philipp Bollmann.

Months prior to the exhibition date, artists are invited to apply for the OPEN CALL to present their work to the curator and advisory board members. Thereafter, 8-12 artists are selected to show their work in the curated exhibition. The show provides a focus for curators, galleries, collectors and other art professionals looking to discover new talent.

There are two awards attached to BERLIN MASTERS which are presented to two artists in the exhibition:

The TOY BERLIN MASTERS AWARD is an art prize worth 10,000 euros, which is awarded annually on the occasion of the BERLIN MASTERS exhibition.  The award recipient can freely use the cash prize for production, exhibitions, publications or a project.  

The TOY BERLIN MASTERS AWARD is donated by art collectors, Monique and Max Burger and is dedicated to the memory of their son, Yves Biggoer-Burger (1988-2011). The award is part of the "TOY CAP Projects - do something that matters in memory of a loved one”.

The BERLIN MASTERS SCHLIEMANN RESIDENCY was introduced in 2019. It is a 6-week residency that takes place the following July & August at St. Remy de Provence, France, running parallel to the "Rencontres de la Photographie d'Arles".

The organizers of BERLIN MASTERS and its various events is the non-profit BERLIN MASTERS FOUNDATION, founded in 2017. BERLIN MASTERS FOUNDATION aims to support the next generation of Berlin based artists following the completion of their education and before their entry into the professional art industry.

DISCLAIMER
Berlin Masters Foundation is dedicated to diversity and inclusive practices. Artists of all backgrounds, ethnicities, health conditions or special needs, sexualities and gender expressions are encouraged to apply. Berlin Masters Foundation wishes to encourage open dialogue and communication. Therefore, we welcome all direct inquiries regarding the application process. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have questions at welcome@berlinmastersfoundation.com.
Berlin Masters Foundation Chairman
MATTHIAS ARNDT

Matthias Arndt is a contemporary art expert and advisor who ran his successful gallery business in Berlin, with branches in Zurich, New York and Singapore. Arndt is the founder and Managing Director of Arndt Art Agency and the Chair of the BERLIN MASTERS Foundation.
Curator
PHILIPP BOLLMANN

Curator, Philipp Bollmann studied Art History and History at the Freie Universität, Berlin. Since 2008 he has held the position of curator at the Wemhöner collection. In 2016 Bollmann was appointed curator of the BERLIN MASTERS exhibition.
Project Manager
ANNALENA AMTHOR

Annalena Amthor holds an MA in Contemporary Art from the University of Manchester. She worked in various fields of the art world in Vienna, London, Moscow and Berlin. Furthermore, she creates several independent projects as a curator. In 2021 she was appointed project manager of BERLIN MASTERS foundation.

Berlin Masters Foundation Advisory Board

SIGURDUR ARNGRIMSSON
Benefactor

Sigurdur Arngrimsson is an Icelandic Businessman, Investor and Art Collector, living in Switzerland.
MAX & MONIQUE BURGER
Benefactors

Max and Monique Burger are the owners of the Burger Collection Hong Kong, a private collection of contemporary art with over 1,200 works representing a wide range from Euro-American and Indian to Asian art.
UTA GROSENICK

Before Uta Grosenick started working in publishing, she was an exhibition organizer and later curator at the Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg. She then worked as an editor for Taschen Verlag, as a program director for DuMont Verlag and was publisher for Distanz Verlag. Since September 2019 she has been in charge of edition cantz now DCV (Dr. Cantz’sche Verlagsgesellschaft). She is also an enthusiastic collector of contemporary art.
MANFRED P. HERRMANN
Benefactor

Manfred P. Herrmann is a German businessman and art collector. He supports numerous cultural initiatives and institutions. In addition, Manfred P. Herrmann serves as consultant to the art market providing expert advice on tax and law. 
GREGOR HILDEBRANDT

Gregor Hildebrandt is an established German contemporary artist who lives and works in Berlin with international representation in London, Paris, Brussels, New York, Hong Kong, Seoul and Tel Aviv.
JOHANN KÖNIG

Johann König is the owner of König gallery, one of the most prominent contemporary galleries in Europe with a spectacular gallery in Berlin and London showing celebrated artists such as Katharina Grosse, Elmgreen & Dragset, Camille Henrot, Alicja Kwade.
FLORIAN PETERS-MESSER
Benefactor

Florian Peters-Messer is a German businessman and art collector. The Peters-Messer Collection provides an insight into a spectrum of diverse artistic attitudes.
JOANA SCHLIEMANN
Benefactor

Joana Schliemann is interested in contemporary culture, in particular the intersection of different artistic disciplines. A collector with a background in film and TV, Joana has co-produced cultural documentaries, worked with think tanks on cultural issues and supports new plays. She sits on the strategic advisory board of the Delfina Foundation, London.
HEINER WEMHOENER

Heiner Wemhoener is a German businessman, collector and owner of the Wemhoener Collection. Heiner Wemhoener started collecting contemporary art in the late1990s-his multilayered, international collection is often shown through curated exhibitions throughout Germany.
LISA ZEITZ

Lisa Zeitz is a German art historian, journalist and editor-in-chief of the magazine Weltkunst and the specialist publication Kunst und Auktionen.