An Award for Courage and New Perspectives

Ten Years of " VBKI-Preis BERLINER GALERIEN": In this anniversary year, the award goes to Super Super Markt. Galerie Burster and GALLERY GUDMUNDSDOTTIR were also honored.

Text Sebastian Thomas | Head of Communications and Marketing

Ten years, ten award ceremonies—and a Berlin gallery scene that continually reinvents itself. To mark the 10th anniversary of the VBKI BERLINER GALERIEN Award, the PalaisPopulaire once again turned the spotlight on September 11 to those venues that, often operating outside the major institutions, provide crucial impetus for contemporary art.

The 2026 Grand Prize goes to Super Super Markt in Mitte. The gallery, founded in 2022 by Julius Jacobi and Rory Kirk-Duncan, receives the award—worth 10,000 euros—for “Volumen,” the first European solo exhibition by Japanese-American artist Adrienne Maki. The two recognition prizes, each worth 2,500 euros, went to galerie burster in Kreuzberg and GALLERY GUDMUNDSDOTTIR in Mitte.

Super Super Markt began as a nomadic exhibition project in temporary spaces and opened a permanent location on Brunnenstraße in 2024. What has remained is its commitment to reimagining the gallery: as an open space where exhibitions, exchange, and community come together. That is precisely what won over the jury. Anja Mosbeck, who delivered the laudatory speech, praised the two founders’ “entrepreneurial courage” and “curatorial curiosity.” Through exhibitions, publications, off-site projects, and community initiatives, Super Super Markt opens up the traditional gallery to the outside world and creates low-threshold access to contemporary art.

The idea that galleries do far more than simply present and sell art has been central to the award’s concept from the very beginning. When the VBKI Cultural Committee took the initiative to create its own award in 2016, the primary goal was to raise the profile of the curatorial and entrepreneurial work that often remains in the shadow of major cultural institutions. Since its inaugural ceremony in 2017, the award—presented in collaboration with the Berlin Galleries Association (lvbg)—has become a well-established institution.

A conversation with two former award recipients—Jan-Philipp Sexauer, who received the award in 2017, and Robert Grunenberg, the 2025 recipient—demonstrated just how much of an impact such an award can have. Grunenberg reported that his gallery’s visibility had increased significantly since receiving the award. Institutions, curators, and collectors have become increasingly aware of the artists represented—and this has opened up new opportunities for collaborations and exhibitions.

For Professor Dr. Stephan Frucht, Chair of the VBKI Culture Committee, the tenth anniversary is both a confirmation and a mandate to continue his commitment to Berlin’s gallery scene. The award embodies a fundamental understanding that has shaped it from the very beginning: Galleries are the backbone of Berlin as an art hub. They discover new voices, support artists, curate exhibitions, and open their doors to the public free of charge throughout the year, providing access to contemporary art. Or, as Frucht puts it succinctly: In Berlin, business and culture are inextricably linked.

All three award-winning galleries had been nominated for the shortlist in July by an independent panel of experts. The jury evaluated the exhibition concept, execution, and overall presentation. The 2026 jury consisted of Robert Grunenberg, Manuel Koch, Anja Mosbeck, and Bernhard Schulz.

The “ VBKI-Preis BERLINER GALERIEN ,” with a total prize fund of 15,000 euros, is supported by the Senate Department for Economics, Energy, and Public Enterprises and is an official part of the BERLIN ART WEEK program. Even after ten years, its mission remains relevant: to highlight bold initiatives by galleries—and thereby support those who continually open up new perspectives on art in Berlin.

Curious about the award-winning galleries? A video tribute to the three finalists was filmed during the jury’s tour and offers insights into their exhibitions, programs, and working methods: www.vbki-preis-berliner-galerien.de