Inside the art scene at Soho House Berlin
In a city known for its vibrant creative culture, our outpost in the German capital has supported both emerging and well-established artists since 2010
Monday 16 September 2024 By Chloe Lawrance Photography by Robert Rieger
Berlin is known for many things: its lively nightlife, streets full of history and vibrant food scene. It’s also known as a hub of creativity, with street art on every corner, and a community of emerging and established artists living and working in the city.
‘Berlin is unique in that it’s remained an avant-garde centre without being commercialised,’ explains Soho House’s Chief Art Director, Kate Bryan. ‘It has a reputation as a place that artists actually live, rather than just where expensive art is sold. There are some excellent art spaces and museums; the city understands the power of art for reconsidering history and exploring what’s to come.’
Soho House Berlin, set in a historic Grade II-listed building in the cultural district of Mitte, has been a cornerstone of the creative community in the city since it opened its doors back in 2010. The House is a place for artists to meet one another, share ideas and be inspired. In part, that’s because creativity is sewn into the fabric of the club – an essential part of its history.
‘Berlin is unique in that it’s remained an avant-garde centre without being commercialised,’ explains Soho House’s Chief Art Director, Kate Bryan. ‘It has a reputation as a place that artists actually live, rather than just where expensive art is sold. There are some excellent art spaces and museums; the city understands the power of art for reconsidering history and exploring what’s to come.’
Soho House Berlin, set in a historic Grade II-listed building in the cultural district of Mitte, has been a cornerstone of the creative community in the city since it opened its doors back in 2010. The House is a place for artists to meet one another, share ideas and be inspired. In part, that’s because creativity is sewn into the fabric of the club – an essential part of its history.
‘In April 2010, Gallery Weekend – a famous art festival in the city – was happening, which felt like the right moment to introduce Soho House to Berlin,’ says Soho House Founder Nick Jones. ‘So, even though half the House was a building site, we called up long-time member and friend, Damien Hirst – who was in town to celebrate the opening of his exhibition with fellow artist Michael Joo – and he agreed to help us host a hard hat party.
‘If you’ve been to our House in Berlin, you might have spotted the rather large black shark hanging behind club reception, which was born from a very opportunist moment of Hirst being in the House, some leftover white boards from the party, and nipping to the shops to pick up some aerosol paint cans in case he fancied painting something,’ explains Jones. ‘In five minutes, he drew the shark that still hangs in the lobby of Soho House Berlin today.’
‘Damien’s shark is one of the most recognisable artworks in the global Soho House collection – it seems to have really struck a chord with our members,’ adds Bryan. ‘This was Hirst revisiting his most famous work – the shark in formaldehyde, “The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living”. It really speaks to the energy of the Berlin House and art scene.’
‘If you’ve been to our House in Berlin, you might have spotted the rather large black shark hanging behind club reception, which was born from a very opportunist moment of Hirst being in the House, some leftover white boards from the party, and nipping to the shops to pick up some aerosol paint cans in case he fancied painting something,’ explains Jones. ‘In five minutes, he drew the shark that still hangs in the lobby of Soho House Berlin today.’
‘Damien’s shark is one of the most recognisable artworks in the global Soho House collection – it seems to have really struck a chord with our members,’ adds Bryan. ‘This was Hirst revisiting his most famous work – the shark in formaldehyde, “The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living”. It really speaks to the energy of the Berlin House and art scene.’
It’s not just established artists like Hirst that play a role in the House’s art scene. Much of the collection is made up of artists in the first years of their careers; Bryan and her team work hard to support those creatives as they grow and flourish, such as Francesco Gioacchini whose playful mural about childhood games and pleasures is found in one of the House’s stairwells. The team originally acquired work from Gioacchini for Soho House Rome, and when he relocated to Berlin, he was invited to create a site-specific work for the club in his new home city.
Similarly, the House offers the opportunity for members to access the art world, which can at times feel impenetrable. That was the case for Rebekka Macht, who was part of Soho Mentorship, our mentoring programme that pairs members with young creatives from lower socioeconomic and underrepresented backgrounds. As a result of the programme, Macht was selected for acquisition to the House’s permanent collection, and she created a series of works that now feature in some of the bedrooms.
‘One thing I really love about the House in Berlin in particular, is that artists have been an important part of the membership since the very beginning,’ says Bryan. ‘I’ll often bump into them when I’m staying there. Last time I visited, I had an incredible time with [German artist] Christian Jankowski, who has an endlessly original and subversive art practice.’
Similarly, the House offers the opportunity for members to access the art world, which can at times feel impenetrable. That was the case for Rebekka Macht, who was part of Soho Mentorship, our mentoring programme that pairs members with young creatives from lower socioeconomic and underrepresented backgrounds. As a result of the programme, Macht was selected for acquisition to the House’s permanent collection, and she created a series of works that now feature in some of the bedrooms.
‘One thing I really love about the House in Berlin in particular, is that artists have been an important part of the membership since the very beginning,’ says Bryan. ‘I’ll often bump into them when I’m staying there. Last time I visited, I had an incredible time with [German artist] Christian Jankowski, who has an endlessly original and subversive art practice.’
Soho House Berlin plays a part in the wider art scene too, with programming that connects with events going on throughout the city, like Berlin Art Week. Each September, the art world flocks to the city for a celebration of the contemporary art scene; this year, in the House we joined in with the conversation with private guided tours of Art Week shows in Mitte and Charlottenburg, an art class with artist Salvatore Siciliano, and an art market with Bluelobster Art, where members could discover works from Berlin-based artists while connecting with creators, collectors, and other art enthusiasts.
We also hosted an Art Week party with King Kong Magazine, welcoming contemporary artist Thomias Radin for a dance performance, French-American art pop duo Faux Real for a live show blending post-punk and glam rock, and Panorama Bar resident and founder of Hamam Nights, Sedef Adasi, for a closing DJ set.
Next year, we’ll be marking 15 years of Soho House Berlin, and with it comes a chance to celebrate the future of the city’s art scene.
‘We’ll be refreshing the House’s art collection as part of the celebrations,’ explains Bryan. ‘It’ll be an exciting moment for the club – we have an incredible line-up of names to introduce onto the walls.’
Explore Soho House Berlin and apply for membership
We also hosted an Art Week party with King Kong Magazine, welcoming contemporary artist Thomias Radin for a dance performance, French-American art pop duo Faux Real for a live show blending post-punk and glam rock, and Panorama Bar resident and founder of Hamam Nights, Sedef Adasi, for a closing DJ set.
Next year, we’ll be marking 15 years of Soho House Berlin, and with it comes a chance to celebrate the future of the city’s art scene.
‘We’ll be refreshing the House’s art collection as part of the celebrations,’ explains Bryan. ‘It’ll be an exciting moment for the club – we have an incredible line-up of names to introduce onto the walls.’
Explore Soho House Berlin and apply for membership
