February 05, 2026
First LBBW academy:square award goes to Felix Wagner
Three works of the graduate (State Academy of Fine Arts Karlsruhe) are being included in the LBBW Collection.
This year, LBBW presented the "LBBW academy:square award" for the first time: The award is linked with the inclusion of an outstanding artistic position in the LBBW collection. It thus supports the special exhibition "academy:square", which makes it easier for promising graduates of the art academies in Baden-Württemberg to enter the art market and makes their works visible.
"Art opens up spaces for thought, provides impetus and is an expression of our corporate responsibility and social commitment. With the LBBW academy:square award, we are now supporting an artist for the first time in the exciting transition from the art academy to the art market," says LBBW Board Member Stefanie Münz.
The winner of the first academy:square award is Felix Wagner from the Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Karlsruhe, a student of Prof Franz Ackermann. He explores urban spaces in search of musical interpretations of tangible structures. His exploration of his surroundings results in striking, visually powerful artistic realisations.
Academy:square
Since 2024, LBBW has also been supporting academy:square: a curated special exhibition of promising graduates from the art academies in Baden-Württemberg (Karlsruhe State Academy of Arts, Karlsruhe State Academy of Art and Design and Stuttgart State Academy of Fine Arts) is intended to support these young talents in entering the art market, make them visible and enable them to discover unseen positions. The jury consists of Elke Buhr (Monopol), Kristian Jarmuschek (Art Kalrsruhe) as well as Sarah Haberkorn (LBBW Collection).
academy:square
Award winner
"The LBBW acedemy:square Award for BROKE YOUTH is a compliment to my work and its social relevance. A dented chewing gum machine becomes the carrier of a subtle psychogeography. Fallen out of time, it is a silent echoing body that refers to the collective memory of the city, to consumption, decay and human traces. It is a great honor that LBBW is including BROKE YOUTH in its collection, and as an up-and-coming artist it is an incentive for my further artistic development," says Felix Wagner.
LBBW and Art Karlsruhe
- LBBW has been a reliable partner and sponsor of Art Karlsruhe since the fair was founded.
- Since 2022, the LBBW Collection has been represented at the fair with curated presentations
- LBBW has been sponsoring the new academy:square format at the fair since 2024
We look forward to seeing you! Art Karlsruhe | Fair for Classical Modern and Contemporary Art | 05 – 08 February 2026;
LBBW Collection Booth T06, Hall 3, academy:square directly opposite S08
Do you have any questions? Please contact us!
