Ten years. A decade. That does sound long. And yet it went by in a flash. I have never liked to dwell on the past, but this anniversary is more of a celebration of the practice of all the artists who have shared their practice with us - and a step forward into the future. This exhibition is not just a retrospective; it is a tribute to the artists, collectors, friends, and wild moments that have shaped Bernheim Gallery.
Founded in 2015, Bernheim began with a singular mission: to provide a platform for visionary artists to challenge conventions and inspire new ways of seeing. Over the past decade, the gallery has expanded globally, representing a diverse roster of both emerging and established artists from around the world. Some of the artists with us today were present at the very beginning, and I am deeply grateful for the ways they have shaped my life, shifted my vision, and sometimes kept me awake at night. This journey has taken me across the world, introducing me to extraordinary artists, collectors, and curators. I feel profoundly lucky to live a life guided by passion, and I hope this path continues to lead me to unexpected places, new people, and many more decades of running a gallery.
Reaching this milestone also marks a shift in identity. It is hard to describe ourselves today as “emerging”, or young, although somehow this feeling has never left me, but my hope is that visitors will always encounter something fresh when they walk through our doors. From the beginning, I built this programme with the conviction that the art we present should matter and be important - that it should challenge, surprise, and provoke. I wanted everyone stepping into the gallery to be caught off guard, never quite knowing what they might encounter. The past decade has seen unprecedented changes in the art world, but I believe we have stayed true to our values and created something distinct. And in many ways, it feels like we are just getting started.
This anniversary is not just about nostalgia - it is about gratitude. Thank you to everyone who has ever walked through our doors, acquired a work, or even commented on a post. I think I run this space on the conviction that if a show changes the life or vision of just one person then it was worth putting on. After hosting over 55 exhibitions over the last 10 years, I hope we have changed the lives of at least 55 people - and I hope we will continue to do so for many decades to come.
Maria Bernheim, 2025
Artists:
Mitchell Anderson · Cristine Brache · Klodin Erb
David Flaugher · Mandy Franca · Nutsa Gogaladze
Min-Jia · Jure Kastelic · Tomoya Kato
Ma Lingli · Ileana Magoda · Vladislav Markov
Ebecho Muslimova · Juan Antonio Olivares · Eli Ping
Denis Savary · Ilana Savdie · Bailey Scieszka
Ding Shilun · Sarah Slappey · Kodai Ujiie
Banks Violette · Kaifan Wang · Tom Waring
Rico Weber · Arisa Yoshioka · Tsai Yun-Ju