Gallery in the Elysee
In our Elysée gallery, contemporary figurative painting from northern Germany has been exhibited and promoted in a changing programme of exhibitions since 1985. After as many as 140 exhibitions, patron and collector Christa Block has created a greatly respected forum for the promotion of art in Hamburg and beyond. The gallery presents a convincing range of stylistic and thematic positions and thus pays tribute to the important traditions of realism in northern Germany in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Current Exhibition
From Stills to Stories
Exhibition: September 23 – November 18, 2025
Featuring Works By
Alexandra Foth, Carlotta Pastel, Felix Eickmann, Finja Frank, Friederike Hayen, Jannick Stiller, Jinyi Park, Josepha Espirito Santo, Julia Fritsch, Lydia Junker, Mailin Knaak, Maja Karbiener, Marcel Fernandez Bücker, Patrick Krawczyk, Ronja Fischer, Sarah Kehrwieder, Sophie Claus, Tatiana Sergeeva, Veit Suhrbier
Opening remarks by Professors Alexandra Kardinar and Reinhard Schulz-Schaeffer
Once again, the city is set to celebrate cinema: from September 25 to October 4, the Hamburg Film Festival will bring movie lovers the latest works from around the world.
As an official partner, the Grand Elysée Hamburg is joining the festivities in its own way. In our gallery, we’re exploring how still images transform into moving stories. Students from the Illustration Department at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW) have created fourteen short films and animations on the theme of “Dilemma”—making their world premiere right here in our exhibition.
Guided by Professors Alexandra Kardinar and Reinhard Schulz-Schaeffer, the students have produced works that are diverse in both style and subject matter—by turns emotional, funny, and thought-provoking. Alongside the films, visitors will discover drawings, sketches, and film stills that offer a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process and highlight the artistry that brings these visual narratives to life.
Elysee Prize
The “Elysée Prize for Painting” to promote young talent from the region is endowed with €10,000 and has already been awarded 12 times to students at north German universities. An independent jury consisting of artists, art historians and cultural journalists decides on the winner of the award. On the occasion of the award ceremony, submitted works are shown during an exhibition at the Galerie im Elysée.
After the Elysée Prize exhibition, works are purchased and included in the Block Collection. They are shown permanently in the corridors on the fifth floor of the Grand Elysée Hamburg and can be viewed there. A summary of earlier Elysée winners can also be found here.