Dieter Appelt wins the renowned Altenbourg Prize – Art in Focus!

Dieter Appelt wins the renowned Altenbourg Prize – Art in Focus!

On September 29, 2025, a very special milestone in the art scene will be celebrated in Altenburg: Dieter Appelt, an important artist, will receive the renowned Gerhard Altenbourg Prize 2025. This makes him the first artist to receive this high award for his photographic work. The prize is one of the most important art prizes in Central Germany and is endowed with a total of 50,000 euros - 10,000 euros as prize money and 40,000 euros for an accompanying exhibition and a catalog, such as [altenburgerland.de].

A look into Appelt's world shows that his work is complex and spans several decades. He created not only photographs, but also drawings and objects. His thematic focuses are deeply rooted in the examination of the body, nature and the big questions of life and death. What is particularly striking is that his later works show an increasingly abstract character. From 1982 to 2000 he was also professor of photography, film and video at the Berlin University of the Arts and took part in the Venice Biennale twice.

Exhibition in the Altenburg Residential Palace

As part of the award, an extensive exhibition of Appelt's works will take place in the Prinzenpalais of the Altenburg Residential Palace. The official opening is on Sunday, August 24, 2025 at 3 p.m. Public tours are also planned, including one on October 9, 2025 at 11 a.m. and another on November 2, 2025 at 2 p.m. The meeting point is the ticket office in the Prinzenpalais, as abg-net.de reports.

Visitors can look forward to a diverse program. An “evening workshop” will take place on September 3, 2025 with the theme “Drawing + Wine,” and on October 9, 2025 there will be a film evening in the Paul Gustavus House with short films about actions by renowned artists, including Dieter Appelt. In this way, people not only think about his works, but also about creative processes as a whole.

Prize winners and awards

Dieter Appelt is not only a prize winner, but is also very popular at numerous renowned exhibitions. The Gerhard Altenbourg Prize is a bubbling source for the art scene, and as the most important art prize in Central Germany, it draws attention to the achievements of artists like Appelt. Such prizes can often provide a platform to find a broader audience for one's own work and to exchange ideas with other cultural workers. This platform is also strengthened by the annual Art Prize Germany awards for over 500 works. Nominations and prize winners will be announced by a jury of experts next year, as kunstpreis-deutschland.de reports.

In summary, it can be said that by honoring Dieter Appelt, the art scene in Altenburg is not only celebrating an award, but is also making a significant contribution to promoting culture. Anyone who would like to visit the artist's works and the installation in the Prinzenpalais should save the dates and take advantage of the opportunity to immerse themselves in the exciting world of contemporary art.