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July 12: Landpartie!Book your ticket now!

A long-cherished wish is coming true: I'm exhibiting in my second home - and I would love for you to be there! For this, I'm organizing a bus trip to Scheggerott in the beautiful Angeln region, north of the Schlei. I will open an exhibition of my latest works in the legendary "Kneipe" (pub) of the village. Since it's a LANDPARTIE, we will also spend a lot of time outdoors and enjoy the beautiful nature. There will be drinks* (with and without alcohol) and food from the grill* (vegetarian options available, of course).

To make it a whole beautiful day, the coach will depart on Saturday, July 12th at 11:30 AM. The journey takes just under 2 hours. We'll return around 11:00 PM. Departure point is Feldstraße 66, at the bunker near Millerntor Stadium.

Places on the bus are limited to 50! Bookings will be accepted until May 20th. Cost: €50 including beer for the journey from Kehrwieder Brewery. Of course, there will also be soft drinks on board for the kids.

Should the bus not be sufficiently filled for whatever reason (actually unimaginable), or should the country excursion not be able to take place for any other reason, I will of course refund the full amount.

This is a really big thing for me!

As some of you may know, I have had ties to this region for almost 25 years, and since 2018, I’ve been restoring an old farmhouse up there (well, actually, it was the house of the local shoemaker, with a small stable and some land for farming when it was built in 1866). This will be the first time I can show my art to the people who are my neighbors, friends—new and old—and everyone else in Angeln who is interested in culture (or in what I really do when I’m not working on the house).

So please join us, and let’s make an unforgettable day out of it!

Jörg

* Food and drinks are not included in the travel price, but they are regional, delicious, and affordable.

Unwrapped - Exhibition & auction ARE … OVER Now. Here’s a re-cap.

My retrospective “Unwrapped - the Alex Diamond Archives” opened Thursday, Sept 26. All work was online available via Silent Auction - at the MEGA contemporary site .

Just quickly - it was ahuge sucess. Thank you all who supported this!

„Unwrapped - The Diamond Archives“, was a Retrospective with work by Alex Diamond from 1998 – 2022!

In this unconventional exhibition, all artwork was offered in a Silent Auction, breaking with the rigid art market rules (Punk’s not dead after all 👊) and starting with minimum bids well below the original prices. You could place your bid secretly on-site and online. At the end of the exhibition, Melvin informed all bidders if their bid was high enough and successful.

I am waiving my share of the auction proceeds so Melvin can invest the entire amount in his own gallery, MEGA Contemporary. Crowdfunding with a twist! By participating in the Silent Auction, you were not only doing something good for your walls at home, but you were also helping to establish a new and young art destination in Hamburg.



#unwrapped: The Diamond Archives - a retrospective

Save the date(s) in your calendar! This one will be special. Here’s the official text from Melvin:

# UNWRAPPED: The Diamond Archives

It’s going to be emotional: The final joint exhibition of the father-son duo Melvin and Jörg Heikhaus is approaching. “UNWRAPPED: The Diamond Archives” will be a retrospective of a special kind. After more than eight years of intensive collaboration at heliumcowboy, we have decided that Alex Diamond will not be represented by MEGA Contemporary—but before that, I would like to take one last look back at the impressive history of this extraordinary artist with you.

Jörg handed me the keys to his personal archive—a fascinating collection of works from the last 20 years. These are true treasures that showcase the transformation and evolution of Alex Diamond in all its facets. From his very early paintings, drawings, and collages to the first originals and prints with and on wood, to his iconic wood images that have now become his trademark—there is so much to discover and revisit. As I first browsed through the collection, memories of the legendary exhibitions at the heliumcowboy artspace on Sternstraße immediately came back—the beginning of a brilliant era as an artist and gallerist.

Look forward to absolute highlights from two decades of artistic work at the limit! The exhibition will take place in our headquarters at Bäckerbreitergang 75. There couldn’t be a better place for this special show, and I look forward to filling the walls from top to bottom with the art of Alex Diamond.

To ensure that these treasures also find their way into your collection, they will be auctioned off in a Silent Auction. For this special retrospective, we are breaking the rigid art market rules and starting with minimum bids well below the original prices. You can place your bids secretly on-site and online. At the end of the exhibition (after two weeks), we will inform you of the results.

What’s particularly MEGA: Jörg is waiving his share of the auction proceeds and is investing the entire amount in the reorientation of my gallery MEGA Contemporary. Crowdfunding with a twist! By participating in the Silent Auction, you are not only doing something good for your walls at home, but you are also helping me establish a new art venue in Hamburg during these challenging times.

We look forward to welcoming you to this wonderful, emotional exhibition where we can indulge together in the beautiful memories of an impressive artistic career that is now embarking on new paths.

Exhibition Dates:

Opening Reception:

Thursday, September 26, 6–10 pm

Weekend Views with Coffee & Cake:

Saturday and Sunday, September 28 & 29, 4–7 pm

Exhibition runs until October 11.

Visiting hours will be posted on Instagram, or you can schedule an appointment: info@me-ga.art


"Alex Diamond and the Demoncatchers", ARTotale Lüneburg, 2009.


GONAKADET

GONAKADET (2024)
Woodcut, acrylic paint, 63 x 53 x 4 cm

The Gonakadet, commonly referred to as the Sea-Wolf, is a mythical creature in the Tlingit tradition of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. Simultaneously strong, generous and humble, the Sea-Wolf was said to bring great luck and wealth to anyone fortunate enough to spy it, or hear its soulful howl.

Gonakadet is said to be inspired by the Vancouver coastal sea wolves, which are found in the Great Bear Rainforest and in northern Vancouver Island.

This work was specifically created for the exhibition ULVEN+ at Galerie Wolfsen, Aalborg. Opening of the exhibition is Saturday, June 22. It is also the celebration of the 60’s birthday of gallery founder Kent Wolfsen. A great gallerist always has some Gonakadet in her/him - Kent for sure does.

PS: Sound samples used in the video above are from Pigeon Hole’s „Wolf Pack“ and „The Island of the Sea Wolves“, spoken by Will Arnett

Everything must end some day: Finissage February 29!

It has been a wonderful couple of weeks (months really ;)) since my latest exhibition ”They all must be slaughtered” was opened in December 2023. Now it all comes to an end:

Please celebrate with me the Finissage of this very special show

on Thursday, February 29, from 5 - 9 pm

at The MISSION by heliumcowboy
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Str. 87, 20355 Hamburg.

Apart from this event, you can visit Wednesdays - Fridays 2 – 6 pm.

Below are some new images from the new works we released last week during the exhibition. And for all the imformation about the show - continue to read here!

All about: 'THEY ALL MUST BE SLAUGHTERED' Exhibition

Ok. Got four minutes and your speakers on? Above is a walkthrough of my new exhibition, including sound. You really should watch till the end (surprise awaits). This is how my new show „They all must be slaughtered“ is presented at The MISSION by heliumcowboy.

The song „They all must be slaughtered“ by the Melvins runs on constant repeat (from Vinyl), and together with the light setting it creates the unique, dark and apocalyptic athmosphere I wanted for this exhibition, which is more like a play on a stage than just a show of artworks.

Continue reading (and view more images from the exhibition and the opening)

Exhibition until March 2, 2024
Open wednesdays - fridays 14 – 18 h

Exhibition Location:
The MISSION by heliumcowboy
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Straße 87, Hamburg

Back to the Future @ heliumcowboy

THIS IS ALL I CAME TO DO, 2022
Acrylic paint, oil pastels, indian ink, ripped fabric and modelling paste on canvas, in artist frame. 153 x 123 cm | check availability

Here are some impressions from my new work „This is all I came to do“ currently in the Exhibition “Back to the Future“ at the heliumcowboy gallery.

The exhibition is open until January 27, 2023.
Opening hours: Wednesdays to Fridays 3-6 pm

Artwork Detail:

THIS IS ALL I CAME TO DO, 2022
Acrylic paint, oil pastels, indian ink, ripped fabric and modelling paste on canvas, in artist frame. 153 x 123 cm
check availability

Artists of the exhibition:

Anne Athena Jon Burgerman, Victor Castillo, Alex Diamond, Boris Hoppek, Christophe Lambert, Susannah Martin, Jens Rausch, David Shillinglaw, Julia Soboleva, Jon Todd, Nicola Watson, Fabian Wolf, Mara Yuki | more info


EXHIBITION VIEWS:

DETAILS:

Don't wake Daddy #17 @ Feinkunst Krüger

Exhibition view alongside work of Alexandra Lukaschewitz (sculptures foreground), Hazel Ang (left), Fred Stonehouse and Heiko Müller. (Photo by Heiko Müller)

Always wonderful to be part of the annual supergroupshow “Don’t wake Daddy” at Feinkunst Krüger, curated by Heiko Müller.

I present 3 works - see below.

Artist in this years edition:

Alex Diamond, Alexandra Lukaschewitz, Allison Sommers, Andrew Cadima, Atak, Babs Webb, Brad Woodfin, Caitlin McCormack, Chris Leib, Dave Cooper, Dewi Plass, Elmar Lause, Femke Hiemstra, Fred Stonehouse, Gregory Hergert, Hazel Ang, Heiko Müller, Jan Thomas, Jason Limon, Jeff Soto, Jesús Aguado, Johnny Akihito Noda, Juliet Schreckinger, Marcus Schäfer, Marc Burckhardt, moki, Pamela Tait, Paul Neberra, Ryan Heshka, Susanne König und Tanja Hirschfeld

More info and availability: check with Feinkunst Krüger

ARTWORK:

The Walker (2022)

Acrylic paint, oil pastels, indian ink, ripped fabric and modelling paste on canvas, in artist frame, 82 x 62 x 5 cm

We let the Stars go (2022)

Acrylic paint, oil pastels, indian ink on canvas, in artist frame, 82 x 62 x 5 cm

I count the hours (2022)
Acrylic paint, oil pastels, indian ink on canvas, in artist frame
52 x 42 x 5 cm

EXHIBITION VIEWS (by Heiko Müller)

Film about the opening of "It's all good." at Barlach Halle K

Film about the opening of my exibition at Barlach Halle K with the heliumcowboy gallery in June, 2022.

Film by Sebastian Etmer. Music by Duo Sabiar.

Find more info and images from the exhibition here and an overview of the artwork at heliumcowboy.

The catalgue is available online in the heliumcowboy shop or directly at the gallery.

"It's all good." Special Edition Book Launch | October 28 at heliumcowboy

Please join me for the release of the book „It's all good.", documenting my largest exhibition to date in the Barlach Halle K in June 2022. For this event we’ll publish a very exclusive and strongly limited edition with individually painted covers by me.

The presentation is embedded in a small exhibition at the heliumcowboy gallery, showing selected work from the main show at Barlach Halle K. Have some drinks with me on the opening night on Friday, October 28, from 6 to 10 pm, or visit the exhibition the two weeks after.

Please note: This first batch of the book is limited to 50! It can be pre-ordered in our shop - please follow this link.

As a little preview, you can read the foreword of the book by Melvin as well see as the first 9 pages of the book over at heliumcowboy’s news page.

Click image to pre-order your copy.

It's all good. The photos! All of them.

Foto by Julia Schwendner

I’ve made it! I went through all the great photos that were taken during my solo exhibition „It’s all good.“ that took place in June 2022. I tried to reduce the output - but I just couldn’t really. So here is a pretty exhausting look into this show that was my largest and probably most important to this day.

Besides these photos by Julia Schwendner, Eric Anders, and our very own Lucy Pfeiffer, there’s a video coming out soon as well. Also we just launched a new episode of the heliumTALK-podcast, in which Melvin and I are talking in depth about the exhibition. You can also listen to the podcast of Der Hamburger Magazin, which is released July 15 and where I speak about this show as well (both podcasts in german language).

Later this year (some time in fall) we’ll be launching a catalogue about this exhibition. Because Print is beautiful.

All the artwork and more info is on the exhibition page at heliumcowboy.

You can also find some images and videos on my instagram profile.

Thanks again to Melvin from heliumcowboy gallery, to Elvie and Angelika from Barlach Halle K, to Angela for the Dinner, to the team and helpers Lucy, Puhli, Elo, Theo, Mara, Dirk, Jana, Ronja; to the musicians Duo Sabiar & Pinewood Road, to all our guests and visitors, to the supporters and buyers, our sponsors Frida (Kappich & Piel), Birger (518 consulting), Jens (Art-Lawyer), Martin (Tesch Wein), Julia & Olli (Kehrwieder Kreativbrauerei), and to Yvonne, who makes it all possible in the first place. If I forgot anyone, let me know!

PREVIEW by Julia Schwendner

VERNISSAGE by Eric Anders

EXHIBITION & INSTALLATION VIEWS by heliumcowboy

ABENDBROT by Lucy Pfeiffer

All the artwork and more info is on the exhibition page at heliumcowboy.

You can also find some images and videos on my instagram profile.

Too busy in the studio. But things are going great and: Save the date(s)!

If you know me you know how much I like a well done artist website, more than I like instagram profiles and such, cos you know, a website is like a house you build and that you own, but of course it needs a lot of attention to be kept in shape.

I lacked this necessary attention a bit these past months, but that is only because I spend all my time in the studio working on new pieces for my upcoming solo-exhibition with heliumcowboy in Hamburg this June. Thsi exhibition will be my largest ever (so far), and there is a lot (a lot!) of space in the beautiful Barlach Halle K where it tales place.

Also there was the work I made for another upcoming exhibition: in New Orleans with the fabulous Mortal Machine Gallery in May, but those pieces have been crated and shipped and already arrived in April. So that’s done.

So let this be a short post, mainly with the dates of my exhibitions, I really hope to see you there! For daily updates please visit my instagram … (yeah I know 😂).

Hope you are all great, despite the insanely shitty times, I’ll try to condense some of the anger and frustration and hope and hate and love and general shit that is happening in the world and to our society in my work, like the good old punk cowboy you know me for.


DATES:

Memory Patinas (group)

at Mortal Machine Gallery, New Orleans
feat. Drew Leshko, Albert Reyes, TMRWLND, Alex Schaefer, Alex Diamond
Opening May 13


It’s all good (solo)

with heliumcowboy artspace
at the Barlach Halle K, Hamburg

June 6–13.
open daily 12–6

Special events:
June 6: Soft opening
June 10: Vernissage
June 11: Finissage with Concert

More to be announced - see heliumcowboy.com and/or their instagram for details.


2022: From Hamburg to New Orleans and back.

There are a lot of things happening at the studio these days. I am preparing for two exhibitions already in the first half of the year, and I am currently working on different types of media, combining techniques, exploring and laying down the foundations for what’s to come (well, truthfully, I am doing this since November already, but this way it sounds cooler).

So right now, at this stage, it is hard to present finished work. It is too early for that but I am also a big fan of showing the progress in the studio, that’s why a lot of my content is tagged #WIP - even though images of unfinished work and studies and processes can lead to false conclusions from time to time. And some of this progress does land in the campfire in my studio up north 😂

These pictures here from last night show the first canvases I have started to work on in many years, having focused on mostly wood and sometimes paper since … I don’t even know. Years! What can I say? I started out as a painter in my early career and moved to woodcuts and wood sculptures and installations around 2009, and I love the feeling of the brushes on fabric again. Though paintings will only be a part of the work shown at my exhibitions - there will be paintings again! Obviously in my current styles and techniques, just not cutting or sawing or building …

Depending on my location, I will work in different ways and on different pieces: When I am in Hamburg I can probably do more construction as my woodshop is indoors, also there is more space for larger pieces. In my other studio in the countryside I am a bit limited indoors simply because it is an old half-timbered farmhouse with low ceilings. My woodshop there is partly outside, and while it does have a roof and a few walls, it is partly open and has no heating, so low temperatures and cold and wet weather can present limitations from time to time.

Paperwork I can do everywhere. I am already at 250 drawings for the Hamburg exhibition. I am going for 350 in June, maybe more, but not less.

The exhibitions I am focusing on at the moment are in New Orleans in May and in Hamburg in June.

In New Orleans I will present my work for the very first time at Mortal Machine Gallery! It just became official this week and I couldn’t be more excited about this one! The exhibition is titled “Memory Patinas” and opens May 13. Curated by gallerist Gabriel Shaffer, I show alongside Drew Leshko , Albert Reyes, TMRWLND and Alex Schaefer.

Here in Hamburg I have a huge solo show at the beautiful Barlach Halle K, and this is the largest exhibition hall I have ever shown at alone. No title yet, but a time: June 4-14. I am supported by Melvin and his team from heliumcowboy, of course, and it will be part of the 20 year anniversary program of the gallery.

More about both shows as they come closer. Also more about the progress of the work. Just follow me on instagram and come back to this website - it’s all there.

F.T.S. Installation & exhibition "In other words: <_blank>"

My installation F.T.S. at heliumcowboy. Click the image to visit the gallery website including the work.

My installation F.T.S. at heliumcowboy. Click the image to visit the gallery website including the work.

Just some quick images from my installation at heliumcowboy as part of the triple header exhibition “In other words: <_blank>” with Jens Rausch and Boris Hoppek.

The opening was awesome. If you missed it, there’s a Catalogue Release Reception June 25, 17:00 – 21:00. Also the gallery is open Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 13:00 – 19:00, and by appointment. You can get in touch with Melvin here.

Below these wonderful photos by Julia Schwendner (thisisjulia.de) you can find my artist statement about the installation.

ARTIST STATEMENT


„I think my work is influenced by the fact that we're living in dangerous times. If I could put it in a sentence, in fact, my work is about just that: living in dangerous times.“ Don DeLillo

Well. I know. I am a fucking artsy smartass, quoting Don DeLillo. But hey, it is true, we are living in dangerous times, and that not just depends on where you’re socially located - at the bottom of the food chain, or on top of the money making game. Capitalism probably has never been easier to understand because its effects are so blatantly visible and so shamelessly displayed.

I absolutely relate my work and especially this series to DeLillo’s source for inspiration. And the danger I am referring to is not just a matter of perspective as stated above. I personally feel that despite the fact that every minute, every second of the day any possible opinion is posted to potentially everybody who is able to hold a smartphone (yes, you don’t even have to be able to read, images are feeding your thoughts just the same), our reactions are dulled and our survival instincts have been drowned by convenience.

In 2005 DeLillo also said that „writers must oppose systems. It's important to write against power, corporations, the state, and the whole system of consumption and of debilitating entertainments [...] I think writers, by nature, must oppose things, oppose whatever power tries to impose on us."

Replace „writers“ with „artists“, add Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok etc. to the list of „debilitating entertainments“ - and there you go. I agree 100% with the wise man on this.

I have always been a politically active person. I have been at least in parts radicalized in my youth, which was a very good time for it because the issues and problems then required action, the same as today but still very different. Getting older, I never ceased to speak my mind and express my often strong and - subjectively seen - alert and vigilant opinion. But I have also been domesticated by life, by choices, by the environment. In my art career, which by now spans several decades, I have been tempted as well to go for the aesthetics and fashion. It is an easy trap to fall into if you are trying to make a living with this shit. It is even worse today where likes and followers are treated as some kind of currency by a social media driven society.

But for many years now I have worked hard to come up with my very own aesthetics and with unique techniques of visual storytelling to find my very personal and individual way to express my concerns, my cares, my love for nature and humanity and my rage towards greed, oppression and intolerance. It is through working with wood and construction and carving with sharp blades and heavy paint and hard work and solid craftsmanship and absolute dedication that I try to create artworks that matter and that are expressive and political.

I believe art can be a beacon to shine a spotlight on society and our lifes, and a flag to be raised in battle. It can be more subtle than a punch in the face or the burning of police cars, but it has the same potential to raise awareness.

This is what I want my voice to be in this crazy, messed up, violated and fucked with but still so lovable world. The installational series I have been working on for this special exhibition in these weird times reflects this. The progress to get to this point was a struggle, and a constant inner debate, even though held mostly in private until the show for numerous reasons, but still … a fight. A battle. A bloodshed at times.

Like an undercurrent one of my favorite expressions for a while now flows though this series. Some may see it an expression of resignation, but that is not my interpretation. I feel it should be rather shouted out loud as a call to action:

Fuck this shit.



Jörg Heikhaus aka Alex Diamond, June 2021

Opening at heliumcowboy June 5 & 6: "In other words: <_blank>"

heliumcowboy_all_artists_announcement2.jpg

Today opens my exhibition alongside fellow artists Boris Hoppek und Jens Rausch at the heliumcowboy artspace Gallery in Hamburg. I built an instalational piece including 18 of myna works. I’ll show you after the opening, for today it’s for those who attend the first public Vernissage of the year 2021 at the gallery.

So glad it all worked out, if you are in town - it’s a not-to-be-missed exhibition by all three artists, curated by the new gallerist of heliumcowboy, Melvin Heikhaus.

Opening is all weekend long, Saturday from 14:00 – 20:00 and Sunday from 14:00 – 18:00.

More info here