Gazing across the Main river towards the island, did you know a phoenix rose here? Not a literal one of course but the Portikus has a fascinating history. It’s Frankfurt’s renowned institution for contemporary art.
The Portikus’s name comes from a portico. This portico belonged to Frankfurt’s destroyed city library of 1825. In 1987, architects Marie-Theres Deutsch and Klaus Dreissigacker built a simple hall around it. This hall became the Portikus. The original structure was destroyed in World War II. The Portikus was rebuilt in 2006 on the Maininsel. It sits on the Maininsel island at Alte Brücke 2. You can reach it via the Old Bridge.
The Portikus is part of the Hochschule für Bildende Künste. That’s the Städelschule art academy. It is dedicated to exhibiting art. They present young, emerging, and established artists. The Portikus publishes and discusses their work. It plays an essential role in Frankfurt’s art scene. The non-profit STIFTUNG GIERSCH financed the 2006 reconstruction.
Kasper König was the first director. He served from 1987 to 2001. Daniel Birnbaum followed. He directed from 2001 to 2010. Nikolaus Hirsch led from 2010 to 2014. Philippe Pirotte then took over from 2014 to 2020. Yasmil Raymond was director from 2020-2024.
The Portikus team includes a director and curators. Currently, Barbara Clausen is the director. Liberty Adrien and Carina Bukuts are curators. Claudia Famulok and Jacqueline Jakobi handle project coordination. Jacqueline Jakobi also manages press inquiries. Robin Stretz is a lecturer.
The Städelshule Portikus e.V. supports the Städelschule. They believe that supporting art today invests in the future. The association supports both the school and the Portikus exhibitions.
Visiting the Portikus is easy. It’s open Tuesday to Friday from 12 PM to 7 PM. Saturday and Sunday hours are 11 AM to 7 PM. Admission is free. The Portikus gets ongoing support from Frankfurt’s cultural office. From 2022-2024, the Portikus is supported by the Hessian Ministry of Science and Art. The Portikus does not have parking spaces. Consider using the Dom-Römer or Alt-Sachsenhausen parking garages if you arrive by car.
Take a moment to appreciate this space. The Portikus provides a platform for artistic dialogue. It invites us to engage with new ideas. It challenges our perceptions of the world. It connects Frankfurt to the international art scene.