Galerie für Zeitgenössische Kunst (Gallery for Contemporary Art), Leipzig

The Gallery for Contemporary Art (GfZK) in Leipzig is a prominent exhibition center dedicated to contemporary art, particularly art created after 1945. The Gallery was initiated by the Friends of the GfZK, a group founded in 1990 by art historian Klaus Werner. Their goal was to promote both national and international contemporary art.

The Gallery for Contemporary Art initially held exhibitions in various locations until it opened on May 16, 1998, in the former Herfurth villa, a Gründerzeit-style building from 1894. Redesigned by architect Peter Kulka and expanded with a modern extension, the renovation won the Architekturpreis der Stadt Leipzig in 1999. The villa now hosts exhibition rooms and a library with 30,000 volumes of contemporary art. Adjacent, a studio house designed by Kulka complements the former coach house, now featuring a music school, a bakery, and the GfZK Hotel.

The gallery expanded further on November 28, 2004, with the opening of GfZK-2, a new exhibition hall designed by as-if berlin wien. This low-rise building, which includes a museum café, is notable for its flexible design featuring movable partitions. It was recognized with the Architekturpreis der Stadt Leipzig in 2005.

Today, the Gallery for Contemporary Art collection features a range of art forms, including works from the BDI's cultural group, private donations, purchases, and loans. The gallery hosts temporary exhibitions and projects that focus on the social role of art, aesthetics, the GDR's legacy, and Eastern and Southeastern European art in an international context.