Karl Stengel at MACQ: A Bridge Between Abstraction and Representation
Querétaro, January 2025 — The Stengel Collection is pleased to announce the opening of an exhibition dedicated to Hungarian artist Karl Stengel (1925–2017), a key figure in postwar European art, at the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Querétaro (MACQ). The exhibition will open on February 28, 2025, at the MACQ facilities, located in the historic Cerro Sangremal.
Featuring a selection of paintings, drawings, and mixed-media works, the exhibition provides a comprehensive insight into Stengel’s legacy, renowned for his bold colours, dynamic brushstrokes, and introspective themes that explore exile, isolation, and trauma. Influenced by movements such as Abstract Expressionism and German Expressionism, Stengel integrated literary and musical elements into his work, fostering a dialogue between visual art, poetry, and music.
Karl Stengel’s career spanned over eight decades and began under extraordinary circumstances — as a prisoner of war in a Siberian gulag. After studying at the Academies of Fine Arts in Budapest and Munich, his works started gaining recognition in German galleries in the 1980s and were later exhibited in prominent venues across Europe and the United States.
Founded in 2018 and managed by the Ministry of Culture of the State of Querétaro, MACQ is dedicated to promoting contemporary artistic practices through dialogue, participation, and research. With a 2,400-square-meter space and a rich history that connects past and present, the museum serves as an ideal setting to highlight the impact and relevance of Stengel’s work in the international art scene.
The exhibition has been organized in collaboration with Maestro Rafael Aguirre, who has a strong artistic connection to Querétaro, and Vito Abba, director of the Karl Stengel Collection, based at Palazzo Rosselli del Turco, Florence.
Opening: February 28, 2025
Venue: MACQ, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Querétaro
Ministry of Culture of the State of Querétaro / Directorate of Artistic Education and Cultural Services
📍 Address:
Manuel Acuña s/n, corner with Reforma
Barrio de la Cruz, Historic Center
CP 76020
Santiago de Querétaro, Querétaro
📞 Contact:
Tel: +52 442 251 98 50 ext. 1001
📧 Email: [email protected]
KARL STENGEL
Karl Stengel (1925–2017) was a Hungarian artist whose work seamlessly combined abstraction and representation. His paintings and drawings have been associated with Abstract Expressionism and German Expressionism. Throughout his career, Stengel remained deeply committed to art as a means of emotional and philosophical exploration.
His artistic journey began under extraordinary circumstances – while imprisoned in a Siberian gulag during World War II, he refined his skills and even held his first exhibition. After studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Budapest, he fled Hungary in the wake of the 1956 revolution, continuing his education in Munich. During the 1970s, he worked as a drawing professor and later gained recognition in the 1980s when his work was exhibited in German galleries.
Stengel’s art often conveys themes of exile, isolation, and trauma, using imagery such as faces, theatrical elements, and silhouettes to reflect postwar existential concerns. His work is also deeply intertwined with poetry, music, and literature, frequently incorporating book pages and musical scores as collage elements. From the 1990s onward, Stengel’s work was exhibited internationally, with shows in Europe, the United States, Japan and South Korea. He divided his time between Munich and Tuscany, participating in significant exhibitions such as Personal Structures at the 2015 Venice Biennale and a showcase at Galerie Adriano Ribolzi in Monaco in 2016.
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- Pastel al óleo sobre papel 91,50×96cm
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- Karl Stengel Untitled 53 2004
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- Karl Stengel Untitled 42 2009
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- Karl Stengel Untitled 36 2009
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- Karl Stengel Untitled 28 2008
THE STENGEL COLLECTION
Founded in 2017, the Karl Stengel Collection aims to safeguard and promote the artistic legacy of Hungarian postwar painter Karl Stengel (1925–2017).
Located in Palazzo Rosselli del Turco in Florence, Italy, the collection houses a diverse selection of Stengel’s works, including paintings, drawings, and mixed-media pieces, providing a broad perspective on his artistic evolution.
Its main goal is to introduce Stengel’s work to a wider international audience. Through a series of curated exhibitions, it encourages ongoing artistic discussions and critical reflections, reinforcing Stengel’s importance in postwar European art.
VITO ABBA
Director of the Stengel Collection
Since 2017, Vito Abba has been the Director of the Stengel Collection at Palazzo Rosselli del Turco in Florence, Italy. Having known Karl Stengel for nearly two decades he has been instrumental in expanding his recognition. As Director, he oversees international exhibitions ensuring that the artist’s legacy continues to reach new audiences. Through collaborations with museums, galleries, and cultural institutions, he actively promotes Stengel’s work on an international scale.
In addition to his role at the Stengel Collection, Abba is the founder of Studio Abba, a platform that has supported artists for nearly 25 years, helping them showcase their work in major museums, art fairs, and galleries worldwide. He also coordinates OpenArtCode, a collective of internationally recognized artists. Under his supervision, the group has exhibited in prestigious venues such as the Grand Palais in Paris, Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti in Venice, and the Metropolitan Art Museum in Tokyo.
🔗 Visit the Stengel Collection
