Art as a Mirror: Discovery Art Fair Cologne 2025 Reflects the Now

The world, as it so often does, seems to be coming apart at the seams. And yet—spring has arrived. With it comes the promise of renewal, a gentle reminder that cycles continue, even when everything feels uncertain. Renewal is also what art offers us: a way to make sense of chaos, to connect, to breathe.

Art is persistent. It insists on being made, being seen. It feeds us, and in return, it asks only for our attention. At times like these, that mutual exchange feels more vital than ever.

Walking through Discovery Art Fair Cologne 2025, this symbiotic relationship is clear. Art fairs are, in many ways, a cultural litmus test—quietly revealing where we are, what we’re thinking, and how we’re feeling beneath the surface.

So what does this year’s edition tell us?

Painting Holds the Floor

For one, painting reigns supreme. While other media are present, their representation is more reserved—whether due to market hesitancy or artistic timing. Painting, on the other hand, holds steady: timeless, collectible, and ever-evolving. If you’re a fan of the brush and canvas, this year will not disappoint.

Between Color and Silence

Motif-wise, abstraction continues to dominate, as expected, though it seems more pronounced than in past years. Alongside it, there’s a noticeable rise in landscapes and nature-inspired works—serene, atmospheric depictions of escapist worlds.
In a time of relentless noise—political, economic, digital—artists, too, appear to be yearning for quiet. More and more, I’ve noticed works that offer a retreat from the everyday—not just into nature, but into dreams, imagined spaces, and surreal moments.
This quiet form of escapism may be exactly what we need right now. And through these works, we get to pause. To reflect. To feel a little more human.

The Shape of Feeling: Abstract Highlights

Abstract works that caught my eye are not merely paintings. They are associative, layered and experiment with different painting materials.

Sander de Klerk (Gallery Sunday Art) exhibited a selection of large gallery format works, combining acrylic and silk paper—a material he discovered after moving from South Africa to Belgium, now central to his richly detailed and tactile artworks. I wanted to touch them. It was impossible.

Dirk Groß’s paintings are subtle and restrained, often leaning toward monochrome with carefully built textures. His abstract compositions carry a quiet elegance, inviting thoughtful reflection rather than demanding attention. Visit Dirk Groß Atelie booth at E18.

At booth E13, Gabriele Sauerland presents a fresh selection of her latest works—well worth your attention. Her approach to painting is intuitive and hands-on, using a variety of materials and tools to breathe life into each surface. The results are powerful, layered abstractions that feel both personal and open-ended, inviting you to look closer and discover your own interpretation. I’ve especially enjoyed the graphic elements and hints of action in her works.

Landscapes of the Inner World

Brigit Soiné’s painting Spuren im Mohn at Unique Contemporary (booth E7) hovers at the edge of abstraction, with delicate poppies seemingly dissolving into air—an expression of fleeting moments and shifting light. Rich in nuance and texture, it reflects her deep engagement with the emotional and atmospheric qualities of color, making it a quietly captivating piece to collect. I want it on my wall.

Linda Klimentová’s painting Čekání offers a quiet yet charged glimpse into a forest clearing, where two nearly invisible figures create a subtle tension. Known for exploring the connection between people and their surroundings, she uses delicate brushwork and translucent layers to blur the line between memory, presence, and the mysterious atmosphere of the natural world. It’s the tension within the landscape that got me. See it at SmetanaQ Gallery, booth F1.

Melancholy and quiet tension run through the contemplative works of Hongku Kwon, a South Korean-born painter living in Germany. Her paintings reflect on the human condition in relation to nature—vast oceans, open fields, and moments that stretch far beyond the noise of everyday life. These are works that invite pause and reflection, offering space to consider something deeper. Her booth D9 is well worth a visit.

One of my favorite nature-themed pieces is Lioba Genske’s Sommerglut. It captures a casual outing, bathed in light and color—calm, relaxed, effortlessly joyful. It’s a gentle yet powerful reminder of what truly matters in life—an ode to simplicity, warmth, and presence. You’ll find it at booth A4, presented by Kunstspecht Köln.

Dreaming in Paint

Where do we escape to most easily but dreams? Carola Schapals reminds us that dreaming is not only good, but desired. Her painting Don’t Wake Me Up Please offers a glimpse into a blurred fictitious space, fogged by dreamy clouds and toned-down colors. Its oneiric atmosphere is enshrouded in a cloud we cannot see through, exuding that bit of fuzzy feeling we get from pleasant dreaming. The work made me daydream—stop by and experience it yourself. Shown by edgyart affairs, booth B10.

As a contrast, Lilly Muth’s Together Through Time invites us to join a luxury holiday in a Californian villa, next to a pool, bathed in sun. It’s a vision for the possible future—it’s nothing if not a dream. I enjoy the nod to masters such as Hockney and the tension between the possible and the impossible in this vision.

Finally, we are social creatures, and dreaming about escaping with our friends and family comes naturally to all. Katharina Hormel’s Sun Kissed Memories is a portrait of a feeling. Togetherness, affection, beauty, and nature come together in this pop-artsy depiction imbued with pastels and shadows.
I want to go there with them. Don’t you?
See Lilly Muth’s and Katharina Hormel’s works at Folly & Muse, booth B3.

Be sure to visit Discovery Art Fair Cologne before it concludes on April 6, 2025—an experience well worth your time.