Photographic Collection / SK Stiftung Kultur

The nucleus of the collection is the August Sander Archive, the world's largest collection of works by the famous Cologne photographer. The Photographic Collection presents temporary exhibitions featuring works by historical and contemporary artists such as Bernd and Hilla Becher, Karl Blossfeldt, Jim Dine, and Candida Höfer.

Außenansicht Gebäude Die Photographische Sammlung/SK Stiftung Kultur — Gebäude Im Mediapark 7, Foto: Janet Sinica

About the museum

The August Sander Archive, acquired in 1992, provided the impetus for the founding of the institution and continues to guide its activities. It is the world's largest collection of original works by the photographer, accompanied by documents, books, and other materials from his estate.

Since 1996, the Photographic Collection has been located together with the other departments of the SK Stiftung Kultur at MediaPark number 7. The building also houses other cultural institutions such as the Cologne Adult Education Center, MusikFabrik NRW, and the Central Archive of the International Art Trade (ZADIK).

Sanders' objective and concept-oriented photography was the benchmark for the expansion of the collection. In keeping with the focus of the collection, it was primarily larger groups of works or series of images that were added to the inventory, rather than individual works. The collection thus also focuses on the photographs of Bernd and Hilla Becher, Karl Blossfeldt, Jim Dine, and many others.

The exhibition program is based on the positions of the collection and the artistic standards it sets. Regardless of whether an exhibition is historical or contemporary in nature, the artist's intentions are at the center of the presentation. There is no permanent exhibition of the collection.