Gerd Harry ‘Judy’ Lybke, the founder of the influential German gallery Eigen + Art, is making his debut at the inaugural Art Cologne Palma Mallorca. Lybke, who began his career as a nude artist's model in East Germany before opening an underground flat-gallery in 1983, reflects on the evolution of the art market from a socialist system defined by censorship to the modern capitalist landscape. For this fair, he is presenting a diverse roster ranging from New Leipzig School star Neo Rauch to emerging talent Maja Behrmann, with works priced between €2,000 and €20,000.
Lybke’s participation highlights the expanding footprint of major European art fairs into boutique Mediterranean destinations and the continued global relevance of the Leipzig art scene. His transition from a dissident figure in the GDR to a powerhouse gallerist underscores the historical shift in how art is produced and traded in post-unification Germany. By bringing glass sculptures and landscape paintings to Mallorca, Lybke is strategically aligning his gallery’s offerings with local artisanal traditions and the island's specific collector demographic.