Akademie der Künste

Käthe Kollwitz Prize 2018. Adrian Piper

"The power of art is unlimited for social change" – affirms Adrian Piper. Addressing subjects such as gender and race, the American artist and analytic philosopher expands the spectrum of first-generation conceptual art and minimalism, questioning the political conditions for the production process of art, its reception and significance – both now and in the past. She avoids an elitist art vocabulary in her works and attempts to create situations that provoke direct responses from viewers.

Piper's way of thinking and working brings forth an unusual societal, economic, psychological and spiritual potential of the visual arts in her research and projects. She has decisively influenced how the Afro-American art scene is viewed and has generally held up a mirror to a predominantly "white male view" of culture. Adrian Piper developed sitespecific works for Pariser Platz, which will be on view in conjunction with this year's awarding of the Käthe Kollwitz Prize.

Funded with the kind support of the Cologne-based bank Kreissparkasse Köln, founding sponsor of the Käthe Kollwitz Museum Köln.