Institute for Art Criticism

"All theory of art must thus also be a critique of it," Theodor W. Adorno


The Institute for Art Criticism was founded by Isabelle Graw, professor for art theory and art history at Städelschule and by Daniel Birnbaum, former Rector of the Städelschule in summer 2003. It focuses on the practice of criticism and its manifold relationships to other disciplines. The institute regularly invites art historians, philosophers, critics, and artists. It benefits from the discourse produced by the professors of the school and many Frankfurt-based art critics and academics. The complex relationship between criticism and artistic practice is particularly relevant to the Städelschule, well-known for its experimentally inclined students. In the past, the following symposiums were held:

THE POWER OF CRITICISM
18/19.12.2003
Benjamin H.D. Buchloh, Yves-Alain Bois, Tim Griffin, Helmut Draxler, Jutta Koether, Niklas Maak

UNTER DRUCK – Über Subjektförmige Bilder, Gesellschaftliche Individuen und den neuen Geist des Kapitalismus. Eine Konferenz in drei Sektionen
2006/2007
30.11.2005: W.T.Mitchell und Sabeth Buchmann
15.12.2006: Paolo Virno, Martin Saar, Daniel Birnbaum
15.12.2007: Luc Boltanski, Sighard Neckel, Isabelle Graw

CANVASES AND CAREERS TODAY – Criticism and its markets.
15/16.12.2008
George Baker, Johanna Burton, Isabelle Graw, Tom, Holert, John Kelsey, Branden Joseph, Melanie Gilligan, Merlin Carpenter

FAREWELL TO CONTEMPORARY ART
14.2.2009
Alexander Alberro, Jack Bankowski, Carrie Lambert Beatty

THE POWER OF JUDGEMENT
17.6.2009
Christoph Menke, Daniel Loick, Isabelle Graw

Ewa Lajer Burcharth: Chardin Material (responses: Isabelle Graw, Daniel Birnbaum)
7.7.2010

ART AND SUBJECTHOOD – the return of the human figure in semiocapitalism
1.7.2011
Isabelle Graw, Hal Foster, Caroline Busta, Michael Sanchez, Ina Blom