This exhibition showcases 193 works from Helmut Klewan's extensive collection, focusing on portraits from international classical modernism to post-war art. It highlights diverse artistic approaches to the portrait and offers a glimpse into the collection's unique character, including some kitsch-categorized works and key pieces of post-1945 Austrian art.
From February 17 to June 11, 2017, the Orangery at the Lower Belvedere hosted 'The Klewan Collection - Portrait(s) of Modernism,' an exhibition of 193 works from the private collection of art expert and gallerist Helmut Klewan. Spanning international classical modernism to key examples of post-war art, the exhibition predominantly features portraits by a wide array of artists.
The collection, amassed over four decades, is characterized by its diversity and individualistic nature, even including works sometimes categorized as kitsch. A significant portion of the exhibition highlights key works of post-1945 Austrian art, reflecting Klewan's close relationships with prominent Austrian artists such as Arnulf Rainer, Maria Lassnig, and Friedensreich Hundertwasser, and his contribution to promoting Austrian art abroad. Featured artists include Christian Ludwig Attersee, Francis Bacon, Giorgio de Chirico, Jean Dubuffet, Salvador Dalí, Alberto Giacometti, Maria Lassnig, Pablo Picasso, Arnulf Rainer, Hans Staudacher, Fritz Wotruba, and Armand Francois Henrion, among others. The exhibition was curated by Harald Krejci.
