ARTfair Innsbruck to Honor Bettina Heinen-Ayech with Major Museum-Scale Exhibition
From October 23 to 25, 2026, ARTfair Innsbruck will mark its 30th anniversary with a museum-like exhibition honoring German artist Bettina Heinen-Ayech (1937–2020). This showcase will present significant and rare pieces, including some that have never been exhibited before, emphasizing her nearly sixty-year dedication to plein air painting. Heinen-Ayech, who was born in Solingen and grew up in the 'Black House' artists' colony under the guidance of Erwin Bowien (1899–1972), divided her time between Europe and the Maghreb, resulting in a distinctive artistic legacy. Her work has been acknowledged in Germany, with the Solingen artists' colony recognized as a 'FrauenOrt NRW.' The exhibition is coordinated with the Bettina Heinen-Ayech Foundation.
Key facts
- ARTfair Innsbruck celebrates its 30th anniversary with a museum-scale exhibition dedicated to Bettina Heinen-Ayech.
- The exhibition runs from October 23 to 25, 2026, at Olympiaworld Innsbruck, Olympiastraße 10, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
- Heinen-Ayech (1937–2020) was born in Solingen and grew up in the artists' colony 'Black House'.
- Her mentor was painter Erwin Bowien (1899–1972), an opponent of National Socialism.
- In 1963, she began dividing her life between Europe and the Maghreb, painting en plein air.
- The historic house of the Solingen colony has been designated a 'FrauenOrt NRW' in her honor.
- The exhibition is organized with the Bettina Heinen-Ayech Foundation, founded in 2022.
- The presentation will include major and rare works, some never shown publicly.
Entities
Artists
- Bettina Heinen-Ayech
- Erwin Bowien
Institutions
- ARTfair Innsbruck
- Bettina Heinen-Ayech Foundation
- FrauenOrt NRW
- Olympiaworld Innsbruck
Locations
- Innsbruck
- Austria
- Solingen
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Maghreb
- North Africa
- Europe
- North Rhine-Westphalia