Vienna mourns the loss of Ernst Hilger: Galer-owner legend!

Vienna mourns the loss of Ernst Hilger: Galer-owner legend!

Ernst Hilger, the important gallery owner and art mediator, died surprisingly at the age of 75. This was confirmed by his wife Karoline Hilger-Bartosch. Hilger was active in the art scene and only visited an art fair and an artist studio on Sunday, which made his sudden death all the more unexpected. The Austrian gallery owner was born in 1950 and celebrated its 75th birthday in February this year. His great passion for art and tireless devotion for artists and the art market made him an outstanding figure in Vienna and beyond.

Veronica Kaup-Hasler, Vienna's City Councilor, commented on the death of Hilger and emphasized that his passionate unrest in the Austrian gallery landscape will be missing. Hilger had operated a gallery for more than fifty years in which he made art affordable for students and opened windows to art from different regions, including Arab, Asian and Southeast European art. He always strived to make art understandable and accessible to everyone, far from elitist exclusivity. This shows his claim to inspire the art scene with democratic and wider circles for art, which was reflected in his work as a gallery owner.

artistic influences and commitment

Hilger was known for his cooperation with renowned artists such as Alfred Hrdlicka, Hans Staudacher and Franz Ringel. His commitment also included the print graphic, where he is considered a pioneer. In addition to his work as a gallery owner, Hilger was also active as a concert organizer and founded the Folk Local Atlantis. With his gallery in Vienna, Hilger Contemporary, and the Hilgerbrotkunsthalle, which he launched in 2003 and 2009, he created places of cultural exchange and art performance. In addition, he promoted cooperation between art and business, including with companies such as Siemens and Austrian Airlines.

his work was also recognized by numerous awards. For example, Hilger received the golden honor for merits around the state of Vienna in 2008 and the professor title in 2000. A selection of his collection was presented in the Angerlehner Museum in Upper Austria in 2018.

A look into the future of the art scene

Hilger's death comes at a time when the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Public Service and Sport (BMKÖS) starts a funding offensive for the visual arts in Austria, with an increase in funding by a total of 350,000 euros. This is an indication of how important galleries are for the art scene and also underlines the commitment to the support of young artists. Andrea Mayer, Secretary of Art and Culture, emphasized that over 40 galleries benefit from foreign trade fair promotion annually.

Ernst Hilger's life's work will continue to serve as a source of inspiration for many in the Austrian cultural landscape. The public will have a long time influence his endeavor to spread art and make it accessible.