Collection - Exhibition - Distribution - Information

The Paalen Archive goes back to a personal collection of materials about the Austrian born artist and thinker Wolfgang Paalen (1905 Baden/Vienna - 1959 Taxco/Mexico) started in 1986 in Paris by the writer and art historian Andreas Neufert.

The particular aesthetics in word and image of this important middle-european exile personality, his way of thinking and, last not least, his life and destiny gives, in its explosive substance, origin to academic and professional discussion and acceptance for artists, philosophers and historians up to now.

In his complexity Paalen´s life and work reflect and synthesize the spiritual and artistic heritage of the early twentieth century, which through this filter becomes transparent and open in its value and dignity for our times.

The aim of the archive and its web-page is to create a platform which allows insight into the complex thinking and work of Paalen for the interested public and exchange ideas which attest his continous effect and actuality up to now.

Beyond that purpose the archive provides expertise in selection, organization and installation of exhibitions, supplies archival, photographic and text material for catalogues and educational programmes.

Our advisory service offering an unbiased opinion on works by Paalen is constantly available ro public institutions, dealers, auction houses and private collections via written correspondance, e-mail or personally by prior appointment.

The archive contains the original fotoarchives of Paalen, a constantly actualized catalogue raisonné of paintings, watercolours, drawings, objects and sculptures, parts of Paalen´s library, all publications to the theme Paalen (inclusive periodicals, newspaper cuttings, dissertations and master thesis´, video and sound recordings), correspondances and personal papers, as well as the published and unpublished writings of the artist (in part in English, German and French).