The Julia Stoschek Foundation is preparing to debut its inaugural major exhibition in the United States, titled "What a Wonderful World: An Audiovisual Poem." This significant presentation of time-based artworks is scheduled to open on February 6 at the historic Variety Arts Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Curated by Udo Kittelmann, the exhibition will feature an expansive collection of contemporary video art drawn from the foundation's extensive holdings, alongside selections of early cinematic masterpieces. This unique juxtaposition is designed to offer a comprehensive journey through 120 years of moving-image history, creating a profound dialogue between past and present forms of visual storytelling.
Based in Berlin and Düsseldorf, the Julia Stoschek Foundation is renowned for managing one of the world's most comprehensive private collections dedicated to time-based art, encompassing over a thousand pieces by more than 300 artists. The foundation's curatorial approach emphasizes film, video, performance, sound installations, and immersive multimedia environments, establishing it as a pivotal institution in the realm of contemporary art. Julia Stoschek herself is recognized as a leading collector, particularly celebrated for her advocacy of moving-image works and her commitment to making parts of her collection accessible to the public through online platforms.
The upcoming Los Angeles exhibition will showcase a diverse lineup of artists, bridging various generations and artistic styles. Featured contemporary artists include Marina Abramović, Arthur Jafa, Cyprien Gaillard, Lu Yang, Doug Aitken, and Monica Bonvicini. These contemporary voices will be presented alongside works by pioneers of early cinema such as Luis Buñuel, Alice Guy-Blaché, Winsor McCay, Georges Méliès, and Walt Disney. This curatorial strategy underscores the foundation's ongoing dedication to contextualizing modern video art within the broader historical narrative of cinematic development.
The chosen venue, the Variety Arts Theater, is a six-story landmark constructed in 1911 in a distinctive Venetian style. Throughout its history, the theater has hosted a wide range of cultural and social events, from suffragist meetings to vaudeville shows and punk rock concerts. After two decades of being dormant, the building will be reactivated for the exhibition's six-week run. This reopens a space that has long been a hub for cultural innovation and public assembly, imbuing the art with an additional layer of historical resonance.
Udo Kittelmann, formerly the director of the Nationalgalerie in Berlin, is celebrated for his interdisciplinary curatorial vision, which frequently integrates historical and contemporary materials. His previous exhibitions have highlighted significant artists such as Hilma af Klint, Douglas Gordon, Sturtevant, and Tomás Saraceno. Notably, Kittelmann organized the German Pavilion at the 2001 Venice Biennale, featuring artist Gregor Schneider, which was awarded the prestigious Golden Lion.
This exhibition arrives at a time when interest in time-based art is steadily increasing. Canyon, a new 40,000-square-foot facility dedicated to video, sound, and performance art, is slated to open in New York’s Lower East Side in 2026. Its initial programming will draw connections to the "Worldbuilding" exhibition, originally presented at the Julia Stoschek Collection in 2022, further emphasizing the growing recognition and institutional support for this dynamic art form.
The Julia Stoschek Foundation's upcoming exhibition in Los Angeles represents a significant cultural event, poised to engage audiences with a rich tapestry of moving-image art. By bringing together a diverse group of artists—from the experimental pioneers of early cinema to cutting-edge contemporary practitioners—the show provides a unique opportunity to explore the evolution of this captivating medium. The choice of the historic Variety Arts Theater as the venue further enriches the experience, offering a compelling backdrop for an exhibition that bridges historical contexts with modern artistic expressions. This presentation underscores the foundation's commitment to advancing the discourse around time-based art and making it accessible to a broader international audience.
