Rolf Lauter CV & Biography 1952-2025
INTRODUCTION
Born 3 December 1952 in Mannheim in the year of the Dragon. 1958-1960 Pestalozzi Grundschule, Mannheim. 1960-1962 Pfingstberg Grundschule, Mannheim. 1962-1972 Johann-Sebastian-Bach Gymnasium, Mannheim.
When he was only ten years old, Rolf Lauter accompanied his mother Margarete Lauter to work in her gallery in Mannheim every day after school (1963-1967). From 1967 to 1970 he worked as assistant curator and from 1970 to 1984 as exhibition curator at the Lauter Gallery.
Opening of the „Margarete Lauter Gallery“ in Mannheim, Bismarckstrasse L 15, 7-9 1963 with works by Ger Lataster, Ung-No Lee, Georges Noël, Rudi Baerwind and Zoltan Kemeny, in collaboration with the Paul Facchetti Gallery, Paris and the beginning of the long-term Collaboration with Paul Facchetti. Besides her general advisor and husband Harro Lauter the Mannheim artist Rudi Baerwind has been the gallery’s advisor since this year.
Long-term collaboration with the galleries Paul Facchetti, Iris Clert, Breteau, Alexandre Iolas, Rodolphe Stadler, Daniel Gervis, Denise René and Artcurial, Paris, the Galerie Friedrich and Dahlem, Munich, the Galerie Schmela, Düsseldorf, the artistic advisors Rudi Baerwind and Hans Himmelheber, one of the best-known specialists for cult and art objects from Africa as well as with the authors Claude Rivière, Wolfgang Sauré, Gerald Gassiot-Talabot, Margit Rowell, Germana Ferrari. Since the 1970s long-term cooperation with the galleries Juana Mordo, Madrid, Carl van der Voort, Ibiza, Hans Mayer, Düsseldorf, Hilt, Basel, Bruno Bischofberger, Zurich, Boisserée, Cologne, Galerie Pudelko, Bonn, Galerie Maeght, Paris, Galerie Kaess-Weiss, Stuttgart, Galleria Peccolo, Livorno and Die Galerie, Frankfurt a.M.
First exhibition with works by „Uwe Lausen“ 1964 and one of the first happenings in a gallery in Germany under the title „Raspberry ice cream is the best in the whole country“. Beginning of the long-term collaboration with Galerie Friedrich und Dahlem, Munich. Second comprehensive exhibition in collaboration with Paul Facchetti, Paris: „Montparnasse today / Montparnasse aujourd’hui“, with works by Karel Appel, Sergio Camargo, Agustín Cárdenas, Pierre Clerc, Luis Feito, Sam Francis, Otto Herbert Hajek, Hans Hartung, Georges Mathieu, Mattia Moreni, Lewis Munford, Arnaldo Pomodoro, Jean-Paul Riopelle, K.R.H. Sonderborg, Pierre Soulages.
Extensive cooperation project with several galleries from Paris under the title: Magic in everyday life / Magie du banal 1965 with works by Royston Adzak, François Arnal, Eduardo Arroyo, Victor Brauner, René Bro, Aristide Caillaud, Dado, François Dufrêne, Yolande Fièvre, Peter Foldes, Klaus Geissler, Domenico Gnoli, Habbah, Horst Egon Kalinowski, Peter Klasen, Harry Kramer, Michel Lablais, Maurice Lemaître, Pavlos, Quilici, Bernard Rancillac, Robert Rauschenberg, Martial Raysse, Antonio Recalcati, Niki de Saint-Phalle, Peter Saul, Bernard Schultze, Ursula Schultze-Bluhm, Harold Stevenson, Jacques de la Villeglé. From this year start of a collaboration with Claude Rivière, Wolfgang Sauré, Gerald Gassiot-Talabot and the galleries Alexandre Iolas, Iris Clert, Galerie Breteau, Galerie «J», Claude Levin, André Schoeller and Galerie Stadler, Paris. Beginning of the friendly cooperation with the Galerie Daniel Gervis, Paris and with the artist couple Alexandre Istrati & Natalia Dumitresco, Paris. Numerous exhibition projects followed. Realization of the first of several solo exhibitions with «Georges Noël» and the beginning of a long-term friendly cooperation. Realization of the first of many subsequent exhibition projects with art and cult objects from Africa in collaboration with Hans Himmelheber, Heidelberg.
Start of cooperation with the artists of the «Syn Group: Bernd Berner, R.G. Dienst, Klaus Jürgen-Fischer, Eduard Micus, Marc Vaux» since 1966. Second happening in the Lauter Gallery under the title „Semantics in Mannheim, May 20, 1966 with Lattanzi and Schreib.“ First overview exhibition with works by young artists under the title „Divergences 66: Alt, Cuadrado, Guerin, Krieg, Meyer, Mohr, Montel, Negrelli, Robelin“. Realization of the first of several solo exhibitions with „Karl-Fred Dahmen“ and the beginning of a long-term friendly cooperation.
The „Galerie Margarete Lauter“ moves 1967 to new exhibition spaces at B 4, 10a Mannheim updating the name in „Galerie Lauter“ ever since. From 1967-1970 assistant for the preparation, organization and realization of exhibitions in the Lauter Gallery Mannheim. First overview exhibition with paintings and drawings by „Jaroslav Serpan“, with whom a friendly relationship has existed ever since. Beginning of a long-term collaboration with „Amadeo Gabino“, Madrid and the artist’s first comprehensive sculpture exhibition.
Solo exhibition „Shusaku Arakawa“ 1968 in collaboration with Galerie Schmela, Düsseldorf. Retrospective exhibition with sculptures by Louise Nevelson in collaboration with Galerie Daniel Gervis, Paris. Second overview exhibition with works by young artists under the title „Divergences 68: Hans Baschang, Karl Heinz Dennig, Dieter Glasmacher, Knut Knabe, Jens Lausen, Rolf Laute, Werner Nöfer, Jürgen Reipka, Konrad Schulz“. Realization of the first of several solo exhibitions with «Otto Herbert Hajek» and the beginning of a long-term friendly cooperation. Beginning of a long-term friendly collaboration with „Erwin Bechtold“, Ibiza and the artist’s first comprehensive exhibition.
First overview exhibition with works by „Gianfranco Baruchello“, in collaboration with Galerie Schmela, Düsseldorf 1969. First comprehensive overview exhibition with artists of the gallery under the title: „Accrochage 1969“ with works by Otmar Alt, Shusaku Arakawa, Bernd Berner, Walter Brendel, Peter Brüning, Erwin Bechtold, Eduard Bargheer, Modest Cuixart, Pierre Clerc, Karl Fred Dahmen, Rolf Gunter Dienst, Natalia Dumitresco, Alekios Fassianos, Gaul, Amadeo Gabino, Karl Otto Götz, Walter Heckmann, Wolf Heinecke, Marvin Israel, Alexandre Istrati, Klaus Jürgen- Fischer, Nicolas Krushenik, Ger Lataster, Rolf Laute, Georg Meistermann, Manolo Millares, Hans Nagel, Georges Noël, Konrad Schulz, Jaroslav Serpan, Mario Yrisarry.
From 1970-1984 responsible exhibition curator at Galerie Lauter Mannheim. Start of designing drafts and text contributions for invitation cards, brochures and catalogs for the Lauter Gallery as well as articles for newspapers and art magazines.
Since 1970 long-term cooperation with the artists Royston Adzak, Pierre Alechinsky, Karel Appel, Shusaku Arakawa, Arman, François Arnal, Eduardo Arroyo, Gianfranco Baruchello, Erwin Bechtold, Bernd Berner, Miguel Berrocal, Victor Brauner, Walter Brendel, Alexander Calder, Pierre Clerc, Karl Fred Dahmen, R.G. Dienst, François Dufrêne, Natalia Dumitresco, Alekios Fassianos, Yolande Fièvre, Lothar Fischer, Peter Foldes, Amadeo Gabino, Klaus Geissler, Domenico Gnoli, Hermann Goepfert, Habbah, Robert Häusser, Hans Hartung, Walter Heckmann, Erwin Heerich, Alexandre Istrati, Klaus Jürgen-Fischer, Rolf Kissel, Harry Kramer, Dieter Krieg, Luciano Lattanzi, Ger Lataster, Maurice Lemaître, Wilhelm Loth, Adolf Luther, Heinz Mack, Georges Mathieu, Roberto Matta, Eduard Micus, Manolo Millares, Joan Miró, Manuel Hernández Mompó, Robert Motherwell, Hans Nagel, Georges Noël, Pavlos, Otto Piene, Arnaldo Pomodoro, Robert Rauschenberg, Martial Raysse, Jürgen Reipka, George Rickey, Manuel Rivera, Niki de Saint-Phalle, Michael Sandle, Antonio Saura, Werner Schreib, Bernard Schultze, Gustav Seitz, Jaroslav Serpan, K.R.H. Sonderborg, Antoní Tàpies, Luis Tomasello, Günther Uecker, Victor Vasarely, Jacques de la Villeglé.
First overview exhibition with Op Art object pictures by «Manuel Rivera» in collaboration with the Juana Mordo Gallery, Madrid, with which a friendly relationship has existed ever since.
Retrospective exhibition with paintings, assemblages and drawings by «Manolo Millares» 1971 in collaboration with the Juana Mordo Gallery, Madrid.
From 1972 to 1984 studies in art history, classical archeology, Christian archeology, Romance studies and philosophy at the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg and at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (1976/77). First retrospective solo exhibition with works by „K.R.H. Sonderborg“ in collaboration with Daniel Gervis, Paris 1972. First of several presentations of clay sculptures and drawings by Lothar Fischer.
First presentation of „Op Art and Kinetics“ 1973 with works by Narciso Debourg, Heinz Mack, Günther Uecker, Luis Tomasello and Yvaral (Jean-Pierre Vasarely), in cooperation with the galleries Denise René, Paris and Hans Mayer, Düsseldorf. First solo exhibitions with works by „Hermann Goepfert“, Frankfurt, „Erwin Heerich“ in collaboration with Alfred Schmela, Düsseldorf and „Habbah“, Paris 1974. Comprehensive retrospective on the work of Werner Schreib. Comprehensive overview exhibition with an expanded circle of artists from the gallery in „Accrochage 74“ with works by: Horst Antes, Arman, Erwin Bechtold, Miguel Berrocal, Mark Boyle, Walter Brendel, Peter Brüning, Alexander Calder, Christo, Natalia Dumitresco, Yolande Fièvre, Lothar Fischer, Amadeo Gabino, Rupprecht Geiger, Hermann Goepfert, Habbah, Erwin Heerich, Alexandre Istrati, Rolf Kissel, Ger Lataster, Wilhelm Loth, Adolf Luther, Heinz Mack, Jobst Mayer, Georg Karl Pfahler, Otto Piene, Robert Rauschenberg, Manuel Rivera , Niki de Saint-Phalle, Werner Schreib, K.R.H. Sonderborg, Mark Tobey, Günther Uecker, Victor Vasarely.
First comprehensive solo exhibitions with works by „Otto Piene“ and „Adolf Luther“ 1975 and the beginning of a long-term friendly collaboration with the artists. 1975/76 curatorial assistant to Dr. Rainer Budde, director at the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum/Museum Ludwig, Cologne. Comprehensive overview exhibition with an expanded circle of artists from the gallery in „Accrochage 75“ with works by: Horst Antes, Jean Arp, Erwin Bechtold, Andreas Bindl, Walter Brendel, Pierre Clerc, Natalia Dumitresco, Lothar Fischer, Amadeo Gabino, Hermann Goepfert, Habbah , Erwin Heerich, Alexandre Istrati, Klaus Jürgen-Fischer, Rolf Kissel, Ger Lataster, Adolf Luther, Heinz Mack, Jobst Meyer, Manuel Hernández Mompó, Georges Noël, Otto Piene, Arnaldo Pomodoro, Robert Rauschenberg, Manuel Rivera, Michael Sandle, Werner Schreib, Bernard Schultze, Gustav Seitz, Jaroslav Serpan, K.R.H. Sonderborg, Jesús Raphael Soto, Antoní Tàpies, Günther Uecker, Ursula Schultze-Bluhm, Victor Vasarely.
First retrospective solo exhibition with sculptures and multiples by „Miguel Berrocal“ 1976 and the beginning of a long-term friendly collaboration with the artist and his family. First overview exhibition of the sculptures by „Gustav Seitz“ in collaboration with Luise Seitz. „Art from Belgium: Pierre Alechinsky, Etienne Elias, Pierre Lahaut, Marc Mendelson“ cooperation project with the City of Mannheim’s Department of Culture. Curatorial assistant to Dr. Rainer Budde, director at the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, Cologne. First responsible organization of a larger special exhibition of the „24. Deutscher Künstlerbund“ (German Association of Artists), Multihalle Mannheim.
First comprehensive solo exhibitions with works by «Antoní Tàpies» 1977 in collaboration with the galleries Mordó, Madrid and Boisserée, Cologne. Extensive special exhibition with works by «Robert Motherwell» in collaboration with the Galerie Pudelko, Bonn.
First exhibition with photographs by „Robert Häusser“, a close family friend since the early 1960s in 1978. At the opening meeting with Peter Iden, who this year was appointed founding director of the Museum of Modern Art Frankfurt. Overview exhibition on the work of „Joan Miró“ and the beginning of a long-term collaboration with Galerie Maeght, Paris. Retrospective on the complete works of „Jaroslav Serpan“ in collaboration with Lucienne Sossountzov-Serpan, two years after the artist’s disappearance.
Beginning of the cooperation and friendship with „Antonio Saura“, Paris 1979 and first overview exhibition of the artist’s oeuvre in collaboration with the Rodolphe Stadler Gallery, Paris.
First meeting with „Georges Mathieu“ in Paris 1980 and subsequent extensive retrospective of the artist in Mannheim. Since this year the beginning of a long-term friendly cooperation. Retrospective of the works of „Georges Noël“, Paris. Since then, scientific exchange with the art historian Margit Rowell, Paris. First special exhibition with sculptures by „Erich Hauser“.
First extensive retrospective on the complete oeuvre of „Heinz Mack“ 1981 and the beginning of a long-term collaboration with the artist. Extensive special exhibition on the complete works of „Hans Hartung“, Antibes and the beginning of a long-term, friendly collaboration with the artist. Review of the gallery activity from 1963 to 1981 in connection with a retrospective overview of all artists and a comprehensive catalog.
First articles and exhibition reviews for the magazine «Pantheon» 1982. Curatorial assistant and friendship to Dietrich Mahlow in the context of the exhibition „Spielraum – Raumspiele“, Frankfurter Feste, Alte Oper, Frankfurt am Main 1982. First extensive individual presentation of the works of „Victor Vasarely“. Start of numerous cooperation projects with the Galleria Peccolo, Livorno.
First major special exhibition with works by „Roberto Matta“ in Mannheim 1983 in collaboration with the artist and his partner Germana Ferrari, Paris. Start of a long-term collaboration with „George Rickey“, Berlin / Santa Barbara, California and Interview with the artist in Berlin. Beginning with articles for the daily newspaper „Frankfurter Rundschau“. Invitation by Peter Iden, Director of the Museum für Moderne Kunst Frankfurt and Roland Burgard from the Building Department Frankfurt a.M. to the „Open competition for the new building of the Museum for Modern Art“.
1984 First major special exhibition with works by „Karel Appel“ at Galerie Lauter in collaboration with the artist. In September 1984, completion of studies in art history, classical archeology, Christian archeology, Romance studies and philosophy at the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg with the inaugural dissertation „Variable Sculpture. Studies on the phenomenon of changeability in 20th century three-dimensional composition“ to obtain the PhD from Prof. Dr. Peter Anselm Riedl.
Early 1984 Appointment by Peter Iden, the founding director of the Frankfurt Museum für Moderne Kunst (1978-1988), as the first curator of the Museum. During 1984-1991 responsible coordinator for the architecture of the new building and the museography in cooperation with the Viennese architect Hans Hollein. Lauter has been Chief Curator and Deputy Director from 1991 to 2002. From 1984-2002 he was responsible for the organization, budgeting and administration of the museum as well as curator for the collection and special exhibitions.
Curator of the exhibition „Bilder für Frankfurt“ at the Deutsches Architektur Museum, Frankfurt and editor of the museum’s first inventory catalog for the museum’s collection in 1985. Curator of the exhibition „Dalla pop art americana alla nuova figurazione: Opere del Museo d’arte moderna di Francoforte“ in the Padiglione d’Arte Contemporanea, Milan and editor of the museum’s expanded inventory catalog 1987.
1989-1994 lectures and teaching position on contemporary art at the Philips University, Marburg.
Curator of the exhibition and author of the catalog „Contemporary Art in Urban Space. Exhibition in the City Center Frankfurt» with site-specific installations by the artists Catherine Beaugrand, Richard Deacon, Joseph Kosuth, Sol LeWitt, Christiane Möbus, Bruce Nauman, Fabrizio Plessi, James Reineking, Joel Shapiro and Franz Erhard Walther in cooperation with the Förderverein Schöneres Frankfurt e.V., Frankfurt am Main 1990-1991.
In 1991 Curator of new presentations of groups of works by the artists «Carl Andre», «Thomas Bayrle», «Heiner Blum», «Alighiero Boetti», «Christian Boltanski», «John Chamberlain», «Walter de Maria», «Dan Flavin», «Herbert Hamak», «Jasper Johns», «Donald Judd», «Joseph Kosuth», «On Kawara», «Yves Klein», «Roy Lichtenstein», «Mario Merz», «Robert Morris», «Reinhard Mucha», «Claes Oldenburg», «Charlotte Posenenske», «Robert Rauschenberg», «Gerhard Richter», «Peter Roehr», «James Rosenquist», «George Segal», «Frank Stella», «James Turrell», «Bill Viola», «Robert Watts», «Jeff Wall», «Franz Erhard Walther», «Andy Warhol» und «Tom Wesselmann» from the MMK collection and author of the Museum texts.
Curator of the one man show and editor of the publication „Carl Andre: Extraneous Roots“, special exhibition of the Museum für Moderne Kunst in the Carmelite Monastery, Frankfurt am Main 1991.
In 1992 Curator of the new presentations of groups of works by the artists „Thomas Bayrle“, „Alighiero Boetti“, „Walter de Maria“, „Yves Klein“, „On Kawara“, „Frank Stella“ and „Reinhard Mucha“ from the MMK collection and author of the Collection texts.
In 1993 Curator of the new presentations of groups of works by the artists «Carl Andre», «Alighiero Boetti», «Fischli & Weiss», «Gotthard Graubner», «Herbert Hamak», «Donald Judd», «Robert Morris», «James Turrell» und „Works of the 1960ies: «Jasper Johns», «Roy Lichtenstein», «Robert Rauschenberg», «James Rosenquist», «George Segal», «Andy Warhol», «Tom Wesselmann» und «Gerhard Richter»“ from the MMK collection and author of the Museum texts.
From 1993-1995 initiator and coordinator of the „Netzwerk Kultur“ project group and curator of the extensive anthology project „Art in Frankfurt 1945 to today“ as part of the 1200th anniversary of the city of Frankfurt am Main with 19 special exhibitions at 11 locations in the city of Frankfurt. Editor of a project book entitled „Art in Frankfurt 1945 until today“ and of 4 other publications in 1994/95.
Text contributions on the artists „Peter Fischli & David Weiss“, „Katharina Fritsch“, „Robert Gober“ and „Bill Viola“ in the art magazine „Kunstforum“.
In 1995 Curator of the new presentations of work groups by the artists „Dan Flavin“, „John Chamberlain“, „Donald Judd“, „Michelangelo Pistoletto“, „Arnulf Rainer“ and „Franz Erhard Walther“ from the MMK collection and author of the Museum texts.
Since 1995 „Commissioner for special projects of cultural urban development“ on behalf of Frankfurt Mayor Petra Roth.
Concept and coordinator for the project „Artistic design of the exterior facades of the Museum of Modern Art by Roy Lichtenstein“ in the context of the Goethe year 1999. Meeting with the artist, New York, November/December 1995 & April 1996.
1995-1997 conception, curator and coordinator of the dialogue exhibition „Views from Abroad: European Perspectives on American Art“, a cooperation project between MMK Frankfurt and the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, to create a temporary imaginary museum of two international collections.
Editor of the autobiography „Alex Katz: Invented Symbols“, in the series „Positions in Contemporary Art 2“, event with the artist at MMK Frankfurt, February 4, 1997 and long-term friendly cooperation with Alex Katz.
Curator of the retrospective exhibition „ALIGHIERO BOETTI (1940-1994): Mettere al Mondo il Mondo / Bringing the World into the World“, MMK – Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt am Main, 30.01.-10.05.1998 & Galerie Jahrhunderthalle Hoechst, 01.03.-19.04. 1998.
Film production „ALIGHIERO BOETTI (1940-1994): Mettere al Mondo il Mondo“, Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt am Main 1998. Film production: Otto Schweitzer.
Curator of the special exhibition „Alex Katz: Smile“ (1993/94) at the MMK Frankfurt am Main 1998.
Curator of the special exhibition „horizontal – vertical: Carl Andre, Dan Flavin, Caspar David Friedrich, Herbert Hamak, Piet Mondrian, Unknown master of 1500“, Galerie Jahrhunderthalle Hoechst 1998.
Coordinator of the symposium „Essay on Abstraction I“ and lecture on Mark Rothko. Museum für Moderne Kunst in cooperation with Rotraut de Clerc, Frankfurter Psychoanalytisches Institut 1998.
Curator of the exhibition and publisher of the publication „Martha Rosler: In the Place of the Public: Airports of the World“, Airport Gallery Frankfurt Airport, „Positions of Contemporary Art 3“ and longstanding friendly collaboration with the artist 1998.
Curator of the first major retrospective with video installations and video projections of „Bill Viola – A 25 Year Survey Exhibition – Works from 25 Years“, Museum of Modern Art / Schirn Kunsthalle / Heilig-Geist-Kirche in the Dominican monastery / Roman hall in the Römer town hall / Deutsche Börse – IHK, Frankfurt am Main 1999. Editor of the extensive publication „Bill Viola: Europäische Einsichten / European Insights“, the text book for the exhibition with contributions by 40 authors 1999.
Conception and curator of the exhibition series „Images and the Human Image“ with presentations of extensive loans and text brochures on selected contemporary art artists: Introduction, Alex Katz, Eric Fischl 1. The theme-oriented special exhibitions with loans were linked to content dialogues with groups of works from the collection of the Museum für Moderne Kunst and realized as part of the „Change of Scene“ exhibitions XVI-XIX between 1999-2001.
Curator of the first retrospective of the American photographer „Peter Fink“ (1907-1984) in Germany, Amerika Haus Frankfurt and other cultural institutions 1999-2000.
Lecture on the topic „Bill Viola: Inner Worlds – Outer Worlds“, Museum Ludwig Cologne, November 23, 1999.
Extensive article in the magazine „Kunstforum International“ entitled: „Art as collective aesthetics. From the «Aestheticization of Life Practice» to an «Aesthetics of Existence»“.
Curator of the extensive special exhibition and editor of the publication on „Lucian Freud: Naked Portraits. Works from the 1940s to the 1990s“, Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt am Main 2000/2001.
Part 2 of the exhibition series „Bild und Menschenbild – Images and the Human Image“ with work presentations and text brochures on selected contemporary art artists: Christian Boltanski, Eric Fischl 2, Peter Fischli & David Weiss, Lucian Freud, Katharina Fritsch, Franz Gertsch, Martin Honert, Neil Jenney, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol. The theme-oriented special exhibitions with loans were linked to content dialogues with groups of works from the collection of the Museum of Modern Art and realized as part of the scene change XVI-XIX between 1999-2001.
Curator of the work dialogue „Roni Horn: Untitled (glass cubes), 1997 & On Kawara: Date Paintings, 1966-1991“, MMK Frankfurt am Main.
Lecture on „Bill Viola: Inner Worlds – Outer Worlds“, ZKM – Center for Art and Media, Karlsruhe, October 13, 2000.
Curator of the retrospective and editor of the publication „Jeff Wall: Figures and Places. Ausgewählte Werke 1978-2000 / Selected Works 1978-2000 », Museum of Modern Art, Frankfurt 2001.
Curator of the special exhibition „John Baldessari, Tetrad Series, 1998/1999“ at MMK Frankfurt 2001.
Curator of the special exhibition „Franz Erhard Walther: 1. Werksatz 1963-1969 and Wortbilder 1957/58“ at the MMK Frankfurt 2001.
Curator of the work dialogue „Alighiero Boetti – Richard Long – Sol LeWitt: Order and Disorder“, MMK Frankfurt 2001.
Editor of the commemorative publication „For Jean-Christophe Ammann“, Museum of Modern Art, Societäts-Verlag, Frankfurt 2001.
Catalog introduction and expert report on the painting „Lucian Freud: After Cézanne“, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra 2001.
Strategy paper: «Frankfurt 2006. Building blocks for strategic cultural management. Concept paper on the change in aesthetic framework conditions for the city of Frankfurt am Main in the years 2001-2006», concept of the Mayor’s representative for special projects of cultural urban development.
Strategy paper „Aesthetic framework conditions for the cultural development of the city of Frankfurt am Main in the years 2002-2010. A city on the way to becoming an economic and cultural metropolis“. Concept of the Mayor’s representative for special projects of cultural urban development.
Culture mile Braubachstrasse – an urban accent in the center of Frankfurt. Press conference. Concept of the Mayor’s representative for special projects of cultural urban development.
Concept for the new „Museion“ museum in Bolzano / Italy from April 2001.
Lecture on „Bill Viola: The Myth of Existence“, Deutsche Bank & Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation Berlin, March 13, 2002.
Lecture at the Landau Art Academy entitled „Image and Truth in the «Portraits» and «Naked Portraits» by Lucian Freud“ on May 11, 2002.
Concept and Curator of the special exhibition „Leuchtspur“ (Traces of Light) along the „Kulturmeile Braubachstrasse“, in Off Sites and in the „MMK Project Room Old Customs Office“. A project by the Mayor’s representative and „Commissioner for Special Projects in Urban Cultural Development“ 2002.
In 2002, the Head of the Department of Culture in Mannheim appointed Lauter as Director at the Kunsthalle Mannheim (2002-2007).
Conception and realization of a new museum concept under the title „The New Kunsthalle – A living Museum of Dialogues“. The basic idea behind the concept is the draft of a „Collection model with a structured content“, which dissolves the traditional art-historical chronology of the collection and – based on a „cross-over structure“ – combines works from the collection with international loans to create constellations with corresponding content. In doing so, selected individual artistic positions from the collection are brought together with works from a wide variety of media from different global cultures and different historical times to create congenial, essentially connected room installations. The concept was implemented in several exemplary presentations (The New Kunsthalle I-IV, Direct Painting, Full House: Faces of a Collection), combined with specific architectural changes to the exhibition rooms, in the years 2003-2007 and was concluded on the 100th anniversary of the Kunsthalle in 2007.
In 2003 beginning of the four-part exhibition cycle: „The New Kunsthalle I: Representing the Collection“, Kunsthalle Mannheim.
Beginning of the exhibition series “ Underground Dialogs 1: Landscape Sublime“, selected works from the graphic collection in dialogue with contemporary art, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2003.
Curator of the exhibition and author of the publication „Blickachsen 4: Sculptures in the Kurpark Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe» with site specific sculptures by Carl Andre, Miguel Berrocal, Eric Fischl, Sebastian Fleiter, Antony Gormley, Nigel Hall, Joseph Kosuth, Markus Lüpertz, Nicola Möser, Lawrence Weiner u.a., Galerie Scheffel, Bad Homburg 2003.
Lecture: «The museum of the future. From the „reconstruction of history“ to the permanent updating of the present. The Kunsthalle Mannheim on the way into the future», Kunsthalle Mannheim, November 5, 2003.
„The New Kunsthalle II: natural – physical – sensual“, New presentation of the collection part 2, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2003/2004.
Curator of the special exhibition „Jürgen Teller: Tracht [&] Go sees“, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2004.
«Approaching Contemporary Art». Lectures and guided tours in front of originals in the Kunsthalle Mannheim for audiences and senior citizens at the University of Mannheim 2004-2006.
Curator of the exhibition „The New Kunsthalle III: material – immaterial“ New presentation of the collection, part 3, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2004.
Introduction to the catalog of the special exhibition „Alighiero e Boetti“, Barbara Gladstone Gallery, New York 2004.
Curator of the special exhibition „Arthur Omar: Photo Works and Video Projections“, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2004. Curator of the special exhibition and introduction to the catalog „Nigel Hall: Hidden Valleys“, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2004. Curator of the special exhibition „Focus video: Yang Fudong“, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2004. Curator of the special exhibition „Focus video: Gary Hill“, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2004. Curator of the special exhibition and editor of the publication «H.-W. & J. Hector Art Prize of the Kunsthalle Mannheim 2003: 1st Prize Gunda Förster», Kunsthalle Mannheim 2004.
Beginning of the exhibition cycle „Wunderkammer Private Collection I: Stephan Balkenhol, Candida Höfer, Michel Majerus, Józef Robakowski“ in the „Metzler Kabinett“, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2004.
„At the Studio: Lynette Yiadom-Boakye“, London 2004 and first individual presentation of a group of works by the artist as part of „Die Neue Kunsthalle IV – Direct Painting“, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2004/2005.
Curator of the exhibition and editor of the publication „Die Neue Kunsthalle IV – Direct Painting: 40 Positions of international contemporary painting“, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2004/2005.
Curator of the exhibition and editor of the publication „Yan Pei-Ming: The Way of the Dragon“, the artist’s first retrospective in a German Museum, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2004-2005.
Curator of the special exhibition „Wunderkammer Private Collection II: Mark Fairnington – Fabulous Animals“ in the „Metzler Kabinett“, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2004/2005.
Concept and foundation of the new departments „Hector Science Center“ and „Hector Creativity Center“ in the Kunsthalle Mannheim in 2005/06.
In February 2005 the English architect „David Adjaye / Associates“ was invited and commissioned to draw up a concept and a feasibility study for a possible new architecture in place of the 1983 Kunsthalle Mannheim building.
Curator of the first retrospective with paintings by „Cecily Brown“ in a German Museum in cooperation with Modern Art Oxford, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2005.
Curator of the extensive special exhibition „Jaume Plensa“, in cooperation with the Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum Duisburg, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2005.
Curator of the exhibition „The American Dream“, in collaboration with DZ Bank Frankfurt, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2005.
Curator of the cooperation project «The New Ten. Contemporary art from the 10 Member states of the EU» in cooperation with the Stiftung für Kunst und Kultur e.V. Bonn and the Museum Küppersmühle Duisburg.
Exhibition cycle „68 degrees: Month of Photography II: Peter Fink, Martin Parr, Alastair Thain“, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2005. „Wunderkammer Private Collection III: Works of German Expressionism“ in the „Metzler Kabinett“ and the adjacent exhibition rooms of the old building, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2005/2006.
2005-2010 Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the „Museo d’arte moderna e contemporanea di Trento e Rovereto“ (MART) in collaboration with Franco Bernabè (Presidente del Mart), Gabriella Belli (Direttore del Mart), Salvatore Settis, Achille Bonito Oliva, Alanna Heiss, Guy Cogeval and Manuel Borja-Villel.
Talks with Michael Lynch, Chief Executive Royal Festival Hall & South Bank Center, about the repositioning of the Hayward Gallery, London 2005.
Introduction to the catalog of the exhibition „Alighiero Boetti: Un pozzo senza fine – Embroideries“, Ben Brown Fine Arts, London, December 2005/2006.
2006 Opening of the «H. W. & J. Hector Research Center» and the «H. W. & J. Hector Creativity Center» of the Kunsthalle Mannheim. Concept for the special exhibition „Goya – Manet – Picasso: Faces of Fear“. An exhibition project for the 100th anniversary of the Kunsthalle Mannheim in cooperation with the Museo Nacional del Prado / Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and Museum of Modern Art, New York 2006.
Curator of the most comprehensive, museum-wide new presentation of the Mannheim collection including selected loans under the title „Full House: Faces of a Collection“, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2006.
Curator of the special exhibitions „Full House: Special 1-5“ with groups of works by „Hussein Chalayan, Axel Geis, Uwe Kowski, Zbigniew Rogalski, Wawrzyniec Tokarski“, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2006.
Special presentation „Take a walk on the wild side: Lynette Yiadom-Boakye“ as part of the exhibition „Full House“, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2006.
Curator of the exhibitions «68 degrees: Month of Photography III: Peter Loewy, Sigmar Polke, Pat York», Kunsthalle Mannheim 2006.
Cooperation project «Picasso. Tradición y vanguardia“, in close collaboration with Miguel Zugaza, Museo Nacional del Prado & Ana Martínez de Aguilar, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía 2006.
On loan of the picture from Edouard Manet, „The Execution of the Emperor Maximilian of Mexico“, 1868. Speech, press tour & introduction to the painting by Manet for the King and Queen of Spain, Madrid June 2006.
Cooperation with Glenn D. Lowry & John Elderfield, The Museum of Modern Art and loan of the painting by „Edouard Manet, The Execution of Emperor Maximilian of Mexico (1868)“ for the exhibition „Manet & The Execution of Maximilian“, MoMA New York 2006/2007.
Redesign and implementation of the „Kunsthalle Sculpture Park“ with numerous loans and use of a new lighting concept for the nightly presentation of the architecture and sculptures 2006/07.
Curator of the dialogue exhibition „Weischer meets Beckmann“, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2007.
Curator of the special exhibition „SEO: In the end came the day“ and catalog introduction, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2007.
Installation and opening of the globally unique light installation „Four Eyes“ (2007) by the American James Turrell on the two outer facades of the new Kunsthalle building from 1983, a gift from «H.W. & J. Hector Foundation» for the 100th anniversary of the Kunsthalle, March 2007.
Curator of the «H. W. & J. Hector Art Prize of the Kunsthalle Mannheim 2006», Kunsthalle Mannheim 2007 and editor of the catalogs for „Albrecht Schäfer: 1st Prize“, „Sonja Vordermaier: 2nd Prize“ and „Nasan Tur: 2nd Prize“, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2007.
Curator of the second comprehensive new presentation of the museum collection as part of the 100th anniversary of the Kunsthalle Mannheim under the title: „The New Kunsthalle – A Living Museum of Dialogues“, Kunsthalle Mannheim, May 2007.
Studio visit and interview with „Alex Katz“, Maine 2007. Studio visit and interview with „Philip Pearlstein“, New York 2007.
Curator of the special exhibition „Thomas Zipp: Planet Caravan – A Futuristic World Fair“, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2007. Curator of the special exhibition „Tal R: Fruits“, Kunsthalle Mannheim 2007.
Concept by „James Turrell“ for „KHM-Niches“, i. e. for four Light-Installations in four niches of the old building of the Kunsthalle Mannheim 2007.
At the end of 2007 Lauter has been transferred to the position of commissioner for visual arts in the city of Mannheim (2008-2009). During that time concepts for cultural urban development including a „Culture-Topography Mannheim“, a project „Art in the City“, a „Space-pool“ to realize cultural projects, a „Kulturareal Jungbusch“, i.e. a conceptual reorientation of the «Hafenstrasse» with a „Belvedere Jungbusch“, an „Atelierhaus 1“, a „Gallery of Artists“, an „Art Campus“ with a „Temporary Contemporary“ as well as a concept for a «Galerie der Künste Mannheim E 5» an aesthetic and content-related redesign of the Mannheim City Hall, Mannheim 2009.
In summer 2009 conception, organization and implementation of the survey exhibition project „artscoutone – contemporary art in urban space from Industriestraße to the Castle“, a comprehensive overview exhibition on the scale of a documenta with site-specific works by 90 international artists in dialogue with a selection of artists from the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region at 17 selected locations in the city center of Mannheim. (November 2009-March 2010).
Since 2008 conception and since 2009 implementation of various «Art Labs» – Laboratories for Contemporary Art, i.e. „artlabmannheim“, „artlabberlin“ and „artlabheidelberg“, located in temporary spaces of the Old Tobacco Factory P. J. Landfried in Heidelberg. Since the beginning Curator und Managing Director to promote creativity and emerging artists on new platforms for the arts. „artlabberlin“ opens in September 2013 in cooperation with „art loft berlin“. Premiere exhibition „Inner Worlds – Outer Worlds“ with video projections by Shahab Gabriel Behzumi, Cecily Brown, Valentin Hennig, Bill Viola, Berlin 2013.
In 2009 founding, between 2010-2012 curator and managing director of the Swiss Art Institution in the Forsthaus Villa Karlsruhe. During this time conception and realization of numerous exhibitions and publications: i.e. „Curator’s Choice“ (2009-10), „Artist Duos-Artist Friends“ (2010), „Hans Peter Adamski: Squares of Longing“ (2010), „Iconic Icons: Margret Eicher“ (2011), „Art Ambassadors“ (2012).
2009 Programmatic new concept for the „Temporary Kunsthalle Berlin“, exhibition cycle September 2009 – December 2010 as part of a cooperation with the „Foundation Future Berlin“, Berlin 2009.
In 2010 Concept for a «Mannheim Contemporary», Exhibition Hall for contemporary art and project space for contemporary artists in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region and Ideas competition with Peter Behrens School of Architecture Düsseldorf.
In the years 2010/2011 realization of the extensive project „artscoutneo – Junge Kunst @ artlabheidelberg“, Alte Tabakfabrik P. J. Landfried Heidelberg in cooperation with K & K STIFTUNG gGmbH, Heidelberg.
November 2010 Lecture and International Roundtable Talk „Museum in the Contemporary Context“. V International art fair „ART-KYIV contemporary 2010“.
2011 Lecture and participation in the roundtable discussion in connection with „Alighiero e Boetti Day“, Auditorium RAI, a cura di Luca Cerizza, Massimiliano Gioni & Francesco Manacorda in collaboration with ARTISSIMA & Fondazione Nicola Trussardi, Turin 2011.
2012 Curator of the exhibition „artlabmannheim @ East Site 2″ with works by Carolina Brack, Margret Eicher, Björn Knapp, Martin Knauf, Thomas Neger, Marcel Weber & Olga Weimer, Alastair Thain and Franziska Wolff, East Site 2, Mannheim 2012. Beginning of Exhibition cycle «Introspection. The Hidden Reality of the Artist“ with 100 works by 100 contemporary artists, artlabmannheim, Mannheim 2012/13.
May 2012 Concept and feasibility study for a „World Art Museum“ for the Getty Research Center Los Angles, Berlin, May 2012. Concept for the Metropolitan Museum New York on new collection and exhibition structures, Berlin.
2013 Introduction to the exhibition „Alighiero Boetti: Imaginando tutto“, Qatar Museums Authority in collaboration with Ben Brown London, March 2013.
Structure paper for the position of a new museum director, MOCA – Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, August / September 2013.
2013 „Dear John: John Baldessari in conversation with Rolf Lauter“, Sprüth Magers Berlin, interview in sleek 40, winter 2013/14.
In 2014 Foundation of the culture group „Swiss Art Council“ Zurich for the conceptual and organizational preparation of a museum model for the 21st century. The structure of the content of the „Museum of the Future“ is based on the conditions of growing globalization and overcomes the outdated structure of museums, which see themselves as archives and pursue the „reconstruction of history“ with a chronological order. In the near future we will establish a museum model that combines traditional works of art from different epochs and cultures on the basis of a space and time-spanning „cross-over structure“ with selected works and work groups of the immediate present to form holistic, dialogical constellations in order to experience the essence of the artworks themselves, their aesthetic presence, their ‚aura‘ and their cultural value in a comparison with works of comparable content. Based on this concept, works from many museums and collections around the world are temporarily brought together in a ‚Musée imaginaire‘. The central idea of the „Museum of the Future“ is therefore to address the concept of the present through a permanent updating of aesthetic positions from the past and present in the respective ’now‘.
Interview about art and culture in Mongolia with Jargal de Facto, ntv Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 23.07.2014.
February 2015 Structure paper for the position of «General Director of the GAM – Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Torino and the Castello di Rivoli Museo d’Arte Contemporanea», Turin.
2015 Lecture and discussion with the musicologist Anno Mungen to introduce the evening event with the video projection by «Bill Viola» from 1994 to the concert by «Edgard Varèse: Déserts» (1954), Oper Frankfurt, as part of «Happy New Ears», Frankfurt am Main on June 9, 2015.
2016 Curator of the exhibition „Carolina Brack: Nature Transfigured: Cut Outs & Cut Outs Light“ in the vaulted cellars of the Hamilton Kunst Bar, Weinheim 2016. Introduction to the project Otgonbayar Ershuu – Antarctic Panorama Penguins, Zurich 2016.
2019 Catalog launch „Lou Ros – The Renaissance of Abstraction“. «Mutatio», Paris 2019.
2020 Catalog launch „Konrad Ross: Painting at the Origin of Language“, Berlin 2020.
2021 Homage to Christian Boltanski. Contribution to the artist’s death with interpretations of the room installations Les Ombres (1986) and Les Suisses Morts (1990), MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst, Frankfurt.
2022 Incontri con Herbert Hamak. Un artista sulla via della pittura scultorea / Encounters with Herbert Hamak. An artist on the way to a sculptural painting, introduction in: HERBERT HAMAK. 30 anni con Studio la Città/30 years with Studio la Città, Verona 2022.
2023-2025 In connection with the concept for a „Museum of the Future“, new concepts, feasibility studies and the first locations for establishing global creativity centers, so-called ArtLabs and FutureLabs in various continents and countries around the world, have also been developed since 2010, organizations to promote creativity, creative thinking and acting as well as establishing strategic planning for the future. The task of the associated cultural scientists is no longer primarily to do retrospective research, but rather to „shape the future“, to plan, prepare, curate and coordinate it in global networks.
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Rolf Lauter Historical Overview 1963-2025
Kunsthalle Mannheim 2004-2005. Photograph: André Morin, Paris
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Galerie Lauter Mannheim 1963-2003
Photograph by Hans Hartung, Fondation Hartung Bergmann, Antibes
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Rolf Lauter Deputy Director MMK Frankfurt 1984-2002. Concepts/Exhibitions/Projects/Writings MMK Frankfurt 1984-1991
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Rolf Lauter Deputy Director MMK Frankfurt 1984-2002. External Exhibitions & Catalog Contributions Part I: 1984-1994
Photograph: Mara Eggert / Stadtarchiv Frankfurt
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Rolf Lauter Deputy Director MMK Frankfurt 1984-2002. External Exhibitions & Catalog Contributions Part II: 1994-1998
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Rolf Lauter Deputy Director MMK Frankfurt 1984-2002. External Exhibitions & Catalog Contributions Part III: 1998-2001
Rolf Lauter (Ed.): Peter Fink – Photographs. A special project of the Commissioner of cultural City Development Frankfurt, Amerika Haus, Frankfurt am Main 1999
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Rolf Lauter Deputy Director MMK Frankfurt 1984-2002. External Exhibitions & Catalog Contributions Part IV: 2001-2002
Bild und Menschenbild / Images and the Human Image: Eric Fischl I & II
MMK Frankfurt 1999/2000. Photograph: Axel Schneider
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Rolf Lauter Commissioner Fine Arts Mannheim 2008-2009
Rolf Lauter Curator Swiss Art Institution 2009-2012, artscoutone / artlabmannheim / artlabheidelberg / artlabberlin 2010-2014
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Rolf Lauter Swiss Art Council 2010-2025
Portrait Rolf Lauter. Photograph: Kasia Paruszewska, Mannheim.
© 2025 The Lauter Archive / The Lauter Legacy / Dr. Rolf Lauter
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