When can I see the exhibition?

The exhibition takes place on 20.09.2026 starting at 10:00 AM at the Jena Art Collection and runs until 5:00 PM.

How much is the admission fee?

The regular admission fee is 5 euros, reduced 3 euros.

Where is the Jena Art Collection located?

The Jena Art Collection is located at Markt 7, 07743 Jena, directly in the center at the historic marketplace.

Are there guided tours or art education offered?

Yes, the Jena Art Collection offers changing guided tours and art educational programs. Registrations are possible for groups.

Is it easy to get there by public transport?

Yes, several stops and parking options are nearby. Mentioned, among others, are Stadtzentrum/Löbdergraben, Steinweg, and Universität.

What are the opening hours for the Jena Art Collection?

Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM, closed on Mondays. Admission is allowed until 30 minutes before closing.

Frank Gaudlitz shows photography between history, closeness, and moving present

Name: FRANK GAUDLITZ
Start: 2026-09-20T12:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-09-20T19:00:00+02:00
Location: Kunstsammlung Jena

Frank Gaudlitz at the Jena Art Collection: Photography as a Journey Through Time Between East and South

The exhibition FRANK GAUDLITZ at the Jena Art Collection opens an intense artistic experience between documentary photography, human closeness, and historical condensation. The photographer is known for series that transform travels, encounters, and societal upheavals into precisely composed visual spaces. The exhibition focuses on his works concerning Eastern Europe and South America and shows how Gaudlitz does not separate reality, staging, and the present, but makes them visible as a cohesive experience. ([kunstsammlung-jena.de](https://www.kunstsammlung-jena.de/de/ausstellungen/wechselausstellungen/1043180?template_id=6068&utm_source=openai))

A Look at People, Not Just Places

Gaudlitz approaches his subjects with an intensity that is immediately felt in the exhibition atmosphere. His photographs arise from closeness, patience, and physical as well as mental presence. The artist follows people in historical and social moments rather than merely depicting them. This is precisely where the strength of his work lies: portrait photography becomes a form of cultural education that intertwines biographies, life worlds, and contemporary history. ([kunstsammlung-jena.de](https://www.kunstsammlung-jena.de/de/ausstellungen/wechselausstellungen/1043180?template_id=6068&utm_source=openai))

Between Black and White and Color

The exhibition unfolds a rhythmic change between strict reduction and color-rich condensation. According to JenaKultur, the tour leads chronologically from early works to the present, from 1986 to 2026. Whitewashed walls, a rich blue room, and the juxtaposition of different series create a precise curation, where photography is presented not as a mere surface, but as a spatial and emotional narrative. The transition between portrait, landscape, wish book, and still life opens multiple layers of meaning. ([blog.jena.de](https://blog.jena.de/jenakultur/2026/09/06/fuer-mich-war-sie-sofort-die-madonna-der-portraetserie/))

Eastern Europe, South America, and the Question of Reality

The exhibition is particularly powerful where Gaudlitz connects societal reality with an almost silent formal rigor. His travels to Russia, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, and later to South America mark artistic and political spaces of experience. The work responds to contemporary history, war, migration, and social vulnerability, without tipping into platitudinous gestures. It is precisely this authority of accurate seeing that makes Frank Gaudlitz an important figure in contemporary photography. ([blog.jena.de](https://blog.jena.de/jenakultur/2026/09/06/fuer-mich-war-sie-sofort-die-madonna-der-portraetserie/))

Why Visiting is Worthwhile

Those who visit the exhibition experience photography as an art of encounter: focused, human, reflective, and sensual at the same time. The series on display open up a view of the dignity of the portrayed, of political ruptures, and of the power of the image as a historical document. The Jena Art Collection provides the appropriate framework with changing exhibitions, public art education, and clear visitor structures. A live visit is definitely worthwhile, as this exhibition unfolds its impact only in the immediate viewing of the works on site. ([kunstsammlung-jena.de](https://www.kunstsammlung-jena.de/?utm_source=openai))