Esther Schipper founded her first gallery in Cologne in 1989. After German reunification, she opened a satellite space in Berlin in the mid-1990s, ultimately moving its operations there in 1997. The gallery space has since relocated several times within Berlin to accommodate its evolving exhibition program and artists’ needs.
In 2015, Esther Schipper acquired Johnen Galerie and integrated its program under the gallery’s name. Esther Schipper opened a company in Korea in 2017, and a public gallery in Seoul in 2022, as well as a gallery location in Paris on Place Vendôme the same year. In 2024, Esther Schipper started an office and a showroom in New York, with the first presentation scheduled for spring 2025.
Throughout its almost 40 year history, the gallery has supported artists who push boundaries and redefine traditional exhibition formats. Building on the early pioneering program, the gallery specializes in fostering institutional support and finding markets for its artists across continents.
The gallery’s global growth nurtures cross-cultural dialogue and brings new commitments to local and international artistic communities. Its activities extend beyond exhibitions to include lectures, performances, and events, reinforcing its role as a discursive space for experimentation.
Today, Esther Schipper represents a diverse range of international artists, established figures and emerging talents practicing in various media.
Esther Schipper is jointly-owned by its founder, Esther Schipper, and Florian Wojnar, her business partner and husband, who became a shareholder in 2014.