Kunstverein Roter Keil

Kunstverein Roter Keil (Red Wedge Art Association) is an Austrian art association and artist collective headquartered in Graz. It was founded on 13 July 2012 by Paul Lässer, Akbar Brandner and Eero Teuschl, graduates of the HTBLVA Graz-Ortweinschule who were looking for space to work. The association focuses on the visual arts and operates as a professionally run, democratically governed cultural organisation. Its mission is to provide a creative platform for cultural mediation and open discourse, with artistic production at its centre. The collective runs a shared studio that from 2012 to 2022 was located on the site of a former car repair shop in the Graz district of Gries. In 2022 the studio community moved to a new workshop in Eggenberg. The studio offers members facilities for working with wood, metal, stone, glass, plaster and textiles, as well as a screen-printing, painting and photography lab. Since September 2020 the association has also operated its own exhibition space, the KEIL Gallery, which serves as a representative platform for the artist group and hosts invited national and international colleagues. Roter Keil organises exhibitions, symposia, events, performances and workshops. Its activities have included participation in the Lendwirbel festival in Graz, exhibitions in Belgrade and Zagreb, and numerous solo and group shows. The association also holds an annual Christmas market and has published a yearbook (Jahreskatalog). The name Roter Keil was chosen by the first members from a list of possible names; according to the association, it has no connection to any political ideology and was not influenced by El Lissitzky's 1920 poster 'Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge'. It was decided in a mobile phone conference for the sole purpose of registering the association. As a registered association (Verein), Kunstverein Roter Keil is a non-profit cultural organisation. It is active primarily in Graz and Styria, with occasional projects elsewhere in Austria and abroad. The association continues to operate its studio and gallery, offering a creative environment and a platform for synergies, exchange and networking among artists of different disciplines.

Kunstverein Roter Keil was founded on 13 July 2012 by Paul Lässer, Akbar Brandner and Eero Teuschl, graduates of the HTBLVA Graz-Ortweinschule who were seeking a place to work. The aim was to develop and operate a studio for the production and presentation of contemporary art across all disciplines, including the conception, organisation and execution of art projects such as exhibitions, symposia, events, performances and workshops. The association's first studio was located in the Graz district of Gries, on the site of a former car repair shop, from 2012 to 2022. In 2022 the studio community moved to a new workshop in Eggenberg, offering members a creative environment and space to develop. The studio is equipped for working with wood, metal, stone, glass, plaster and textiles, and includes a screen-printing, painting and photography lab. Since September 2020 the association has operated its own exhibition space, the KEIL Gallery, which provides a representative platform for the artist group and invites national and international colleagues to create a diverse art programme. Over the years, Roter Keil has organised and participated in numerous exhibitions and events. Highlights include the 2013 symposium 'Transformation 2 – Holz' in Leutschach, the 2014 symposium 'Transformation 3 – Stadt' in Eisenerz, participation in queerograd (2014) and DEV9T in Belgrade (2016), and exhibitions such as 'GRAND HOTEL KEIL' (2019) and 'KEILKEILKEIL' (2019), which marked the opening of the KEIL Gallery. The association has also been a regular participant in the Lendwirbel festival in Graz. In 2022 it held the 'KEILFESTTAGE NO.1-5' farewell celebrations for the Atelier Roter Keil. The name Roter Keil was chosen by the first members from a variety of possible names. According to the association, it has no connection to any political ideology and was not influenced by El Lissitzky's 1920 poster 'Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge'. The name was decided in a mobile phone conference for the sole purpose of registering the association. Later, several explanatory models were devised: the first studio was in the 5th district of Graz, and the Roman numeral V resembles a downward-tapering wedge; a wedge creates space where there was none and fills gaps; the wedge as a tetrahedron is the first Platonic solid; and the wedge is meant to break open old structures and expand the boundaries of art. The association is a registered non-profit organisation (Verein) and continues to operate its studio and gallery in Graz.

• 2022

  Studio community moved to a new workshop in Eggenberg; farewell celebrations 'KEILFESTTAGE NO.1-5'.

• 2020

  Started operating its own exhibition space, the KEIL Gallery, in September.

• 2019

  KEIL Gallery opening with the exhibition 'KEILKEILKEIL'.

• 2018

  Participation in IZLOŽBA_Artists as Mentors in Zagreb.

• 2016

  Participation in DEV9T in Belgrade, Serbia.

• 2014

  Participation in queerograd and the 'Transformation 3 – Stadt' symposium.

• 2013

  Participation in the Lendwirbel festival and the 'Transformation 2 – Holz' symposium.

• 2012

  Founded on 13 July by Paul Lässer, Akbar Brandner and Eero Teuschl.

• 2012

  First studio established in the Gries district of Graz, on the site of a former car repair shop.

Non-profit artist-run association providing studio space and a gallery for contemporary art in Graz.

• KEIL Gallery

  Exhibition space opened in September 2020, serving as a platform for the artist collective and invited guests.

• Shared studio

  Workshop with facilities for wood, metal, stone, glass, plaster and textiles, plus screen-printing, painting and photography labs.

• Jahreskatalog (annual yearbook)

  Annual publication documenting the association's activities.

1. 1HOME – Kunstverein ROTER KEILroterkeil.at
2. 2Kunstverein Roter Keil – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Kunstverein Roter Keil – Wikidatawikidata.org