Vienna mourns the loss of gallery Ernst Hilger: A life for art!

Vienna mourns the loss of gallery Ernst Hilger: A life for art!

Ernst Hilger, the influential Viennese gallery owner and art dealer, died on Monday evening at the age of 75. Born on February 28, 1950 in Vienna, he leaves an impressive legacy in the art scene. Hilger began his academic career in 1968 with a degree in business administration, but was soon able to develop his passion for art. He originally wanted to become a singer or poet, but he founded his first gallery over 50 years ago.

1971 Hilger opened the Academia Gallery in Salzburg, followed by the Spectrum gallery in Vienna in 1972. In 1976 he finally founded his own gallery, in which over 500 exhibitions took place. He had opened several locations in recent decades, including Hilger Contemporary since 2003, Hilgerbrotkunsthalle since 2009 and Hilgernext since 2013.

An important contribution to the art scene

Hilger was not only a successful gallery owner, but also an important player in the Association of the Austrian Galleries. He acted as President of the Association and was President of the European Gallery List Association from 2002 to 2007. In recent years, however, he no longer has official functions and has been positive about this decision. He emphasized the difficulties with which the art market is confronted and pointed out the tense political world situation.

For his services, he was awarded the professor title in 2000 and received the Golden Honor of the City of Vienna in 2008. In an impressive gesture he gave around 500 works from his art collection to the Musa, which demonstrates his commitment to art and its funding.

his inheritance and the future of galleries

Ernst Hilger was a central figure that significantly influenced art trade and propagation of contemporary art in Austria. His influence remains, not least due to the exhibition activity initiated and funded by him, which is accessible to the public for several days a week. The Association of the Austrian Galleries, in which Hilger was also active, continues to work for the promotion of art and galleries in the country.

The requirements for ordinary members of the association are clearly defined, which ensures the seriousness and quality of the art on display. Members must have a decent home or company headquarters in Austria and demonstrate a constant gallery activity of over three years. Supporting and supporting members also have the opportunity to contribute to the distribution of contemporary art, even if they do not meet all the requirements for proper membership.

Ernst Hilger's death marks a loss for the art community, but his inheritance will live on in the numerous exhibitions and the art scene he supported. His life and work are not only a testamentary testimony of his commitment, but also an inspiration for future generations of gallery owners and artists. His name will continue to be closely related to the development of contemporary art in Austria.

Further information on the structures and requirements of the Association of the Austrian Galleries can be found on Diegalerien.at.

For more details on Ernst Hilger's life and his achievements, visit vienna.at.