BERLIN.- The Berlin Art Institute announces a landmark celebration on Saturday, September 6, 2025, of it´s 10th anniversary with the special exhibition ‘hugging’, commemorating a decade of artistic dialogue, community engagement, and transnational exchange. The event also features the Open Studios and the annual BAI Fellows Exhibition as part of the institute’s widely anticipated Open House, extending BAI’s doors to Berlin and the world.

“hugging”: A Decade of International and Personal Connection

At the heart of this occasion is hugging, an exhibition assembling a selection of objects, artworks, mementos, and archival materials contributed by more than 50 BAI alumni who have engaged with the institute since its founding in 2015. To date, the BAI Studio Program has been attended by more than 600 residents from 70+ countries, both independently and through successful collaborations with organizations such as the Ukrainian Institute (Ukraine), Misk Art Institute (Saudi Arabia), Gangwon Art & Culture Foundation (South Korea), and Artis (New York/Tel Aviv).

More than a gesture, hugging serves as a metaphor for closeness, care, and the cross- cultural bonds nurtured at BAI over the last decade.

"‘hugging’ reflects not just physical closeness, but the emotional and intellectual embrace shared across borders, languages, and disciplines within the BAI network," say Stephanie Jünemann & Ralf Schmitt, BAI directors.

Visitors will encounter a visual and emotional narrative of arrival, encounter, and creative kinship, reflecting moments of collaboration, displacement, and solidarity. From handwritten letters and personal notes to collaborative works and cultural artifacts, the exhibition invites audiences to reflect on the invisible threads that connect artistic communities across borders and disciplines.

Curated by Stephanie Jünemann and Ralf Schmitt, directors of BAI, the exhibition underscores the institute’s core mission: fostering creative exchange and dialogue among diverse artistic voices, while celebrating the friendships and kinships that emerge through shared studio practice.

With contributions by Fatma Abdulhadi, Akay, Nouf AlMugairi, Dania AlSaleh, Meshaal Alzeer, Carolina Amaya, Universidad del Atlántico, Gemma Autum, Tara Bewley, Huda Beydoun, Daniel Coiughlin, Valentina Cordoba, Gunner Dongieux, Helen Esberg, Hadass Gilboa, Shay Tova Govhary, James Haley, Hyon Hartberger, Bashaer Hawsawi, Shlomit Hiller, Emily Hunt, Hannah Isennock, Shireen Ikramullah, Ammar Jiman, Bonu Kamalova, Daria Kovaleva, Ann Van Der Kuip, Namhee Kwon, Euan Lynn, Meshaal Alzeer, Meenakshi Nihalani, Khalid Nadhirah, Raisa Nosova, Carl Rojens, Anat Ofer, Camila Piana, Aarti Pillai, Bernd Reichel, Geneviève Roy, Rolf Schulenburg, Skyla Schreter, Dahye Sim, Sage Sidley, Elinor Shapiro, Abeer Sultan, Mona Sunbol, Abbey Sy, Tiffany Tang, Solene Tartivelle, Ella Taub, Mukta Tripathy, Tu!, Youseline Vital, Demelza Woodbridge, Abdelhak Yahiaoui, Kristin Zibell, Karla Zurita, among others

BAI Fellows Exhibition

Running concurrently with hugging is the annual BAI Fellows Exhibition (September 7– 12, 2025), presenting selected works developed by fellows over the past 12 months during their participation in BAI’s comprehensive Studio Program. This showcase highlights emerging voices and experimental practices, offering insight into the diverse media, themes, and approaches explored during their residency.

The Fellows Exhibition is a cornerstone of BAI’s program, demonstrating its commitment to mentorship, process driven creation, and critical dialogue. By inviting the public to engage with the fellows’ latest works, the exhibition serves as a vital platform for emerging artists to connect with curators, collectors, and the broader art community.

With works by Afnan Albladi, Aparna Bidasaria, Huda Beydoun, AJ Black, Stav Eitan, Yusef Fageeh, Hadass Gilboa, Shay Govhary, Ammar Jiman, Zara Koops, Mariia Lutsak, Sumit Mehndiratta, Oksana Metka, Hila Mrad, Ashlee Zlatna, Karla Zurita.

Open Studios: Inviting the Public Behind the Scenes

Coinciding with the exhibition openings, BAI will host its annual Open House on September 6 (3–9 pm). This event transforms the institute into an accessible space for the public, neighbors, and international visitors alike. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the studios, meet participating artists, and experience firsthand the environment where BAI’s dynamic creative exchange unfolds.

With Giel Brouwer, Matthew Clara, Taylor Janell Field, Leslie Grollman, Adva Kremer, Ingrid Munoz, Nadia Terpiłowska, Beatrix Villiers, among others

Guided tours led by the directors will take place between 6–9 pm, providing deeper insight into both the anniversary exhibition and the fellows’ showcase. This inclusive approach reflects BAI’s broader vision of building bridges between artists and civic society, professional art networks, and the local Berlin community.