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chanel and hamburger bahnhof unveil a bold new art collaboration

Chanel is deepening its ties to the art world with a new partnership at Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart. Over the next three years, the Chanel Commission will see the museum’s vast historic hall transformed by a different artist each year, setting a new precedent for large-scale commissions in public institutions. The inaugural edition, launching on 1 May 2025, will be led by Berlin-based artist Klára Hosnedlová.  

For Chanel, the commission is part of its wider Culture Fund initiative, which supports artists across disciplines and geographies. Through programmes like Chanel’s Art Partners, the Chanel Next Prize, and the Chanel Connects podcast, the fund supports artists, curators, and thought leaders across disciplines — whether at the Venice Biennale, the British Film Institute, or the MCA Chicago — helping shape the future of contemporary creativity.

 

Known for her meticulous sculptural work and intricate embroidery, Hosnedlová will unveil embrace, her most ambitious installation yet. Drawing on themes of belonging and utopia, the work will turn the museum’s industrial setting into a surreal, textural landscape, with nine-metre-high tapestries, sculptural objects, and hand-embroidered details crafted from flax fibres, cast glass, and sandstone. The exhibition will coincide with Berlin Gallery Weekend, cementing its place on the city’s cultural calendar.  

“With the Chanel Commission at Hamburger Bahnhof, we are embarking on a bold new chapter that celebrates the transformative power of contemporary art within the unparalleled setting of the museum’s historic hall,” shared Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, co-directors of Hamburger Bahnhof. “The collaboration reaffirms the shared commitment of Hamburger Bahnhof and Chanel to bring forth groundbreaking projects that challenge conventions. Klára Hosnedlová’s immersive installation will resonate deeply with audiences, igniting thought-provoking new perspectives.”

The house has long championed creative expression beyond fashion, from film and literature to contemporary art. With this latest venture, Chanel strengthens its presence in Berlin and expands its influence in the art world, aligning itself with a space known for its avant-garde approach to curation.  

Running until 26 October 2025, the first Chanel Commission promises to bring a new energy to Hamburger Bahnhof, blending art, fashion, and cultural dialogue on an unprecedented scale.

Find out more here.

photography. Thomas Bruns, Klára Hosnedlová, Vitali Gelwich, David von Becker
words. Gennaro Costanzo