Daniel Hug on a Decade Leading Art Cologne and the Fair's Evolution

Daniel Hug, the Swiss-American gallerist, has led Art Cologne for a decade, making him only the second director in the fair's 52-year history. He succeeded Gerard Goodrow, who managed four editions, while earlier the fair was run by the BVDG (German Galleries Association) with rotating presidents like Karsten Greve, Gerhard F. Reinz, Heinz Stünke, and Rudolf Zwirner. Stünke and Zwirner founded Art Cologne in 1967, pioneering the commercial gallery model for modern and contemporary art sales, replacing the earlier artist-direct market. Hug was appointed on May 1, 2008, and took charge for the 2009 edition. He recalibrated the fair's layout, addressing inequities from the Open Space platform introduced by Goodrow, which had favored trendy galleries with cheaper, smaller stands while relegating established dealers. Hug extended the young galleries age limit from under three to under eight years, a move later adopted by Frieze. He also launched the Collaborations platform, allowing galleries to share costs and present joint projects. The 52nd edition runs April 19-22, 2018 in Cologne, featuring the highest-ever Italian gallery participation, including Lorenzelli Arte, Kanalidarte, Giorgio Persano, A+B, Giò Marconi, and Mazzoli.