Works from the Estate of Galerie Franz Swetec

Franz Swetec (born 1935 in Yugoslavia) was the oldest active second-generation ZERO gallerist and operated a gallery in Düsseldorf until 2025.

He grew up in Bavaria and in Griesheim near Darmstadt. Following an apprenticeship as a carpenter, he accepted a position with the company Wella, through which he came into contact with the owner and art collector Karl Ströher. This acquaintance led to his first connections with artists and marked the beginning of his commitment to contemporary art.

In 1968, Swetec, together with Ursula Wendtorf, opened a gallery on Bilker Straße in Düsseldorf, where it remained for four years. After a brief interim period in Griesheim, the gallery was reopened in 1976 on Harffstraße in Düsseldorf. It was later relocated to Kasernenstraße 13, where it remained until 2025.

Opening reception: Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 7 pm