Kontakt is a unique collection dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich artistic heritage of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. The collection’s mission is to safeguard and document the often-overlooked neo-avant-garde art from the 1960s and 1970s, ensuring its rightful place in global art history. Kontakt does not maintain a museum of its own but operates as a nomadic collection.

We established Kontakt Collection as a non-profit art association in 2004 in collaboration with Erste Group. The founding members of the collection chose the name »Kontakt« as a tribute to the art of Július Koller, who created a series of works titled »KONTAKT (Anti-Happening)« in the 1960s. The name reflects their commitment to the artistic projects, documents and actions of artists who sought to present forward-looking alternatives to societal passivity during an era marked by both oppression and enormous change.

Kontakt Collection, which includes over 1,400 works by 170 artists, serves as a testament to the resilience and creativity of artists who navigated the complex socio-political landscapes of their time. By shining a light on these significant cultural documents, Kontakt aims to challenge and expand the conventional narratives of art history as well as to foster dialogue and understanding.

The nomadic approach allows Kontakt to remain flexible and responsive while making the collection’s artworks available worldwide. In 2024, Kontakt celebrated its 20th anniversary, embracing this opportunity to really think about its own future from an artistic and institutional perspective and taking into account developments such as the climate crisis and resource scarcity. As a result, a commitment was made to foster sustainability by avoiding CO2-intensive art transports and exhibition displays requiring large amounts of material.

kontakt-collection.org