When winter envelops Millstatt in a special silence, a moment of reflection arises at ART SPACE Stift Millstatt—a pause that creates space for concentrated encounters with contemporary art. In December, after an intense year with a multifaceted program comes to an end, the schäfer + schlehwein gallery opens its doors and invites visitors to a final exhibition that accompanies the turn of the year with artistic radiance: the X-Mas Special.

The listed rooms of the monastery—itself a place of centuries-old resonance and quiet presence—provide the atmospheric setting for a select group exhibition that brings together old and new works by the gallery's artists. Amidst the winter retreat, the exhibited works unfold with remarkable intensity: explosions of color, powerful fields of form, and rhythmic movements set independent accents and create a sensual counterbalance to the silence of the season.Among others, the exhibition presents color- and form-explosive positions by PE Hagen, Ha Haengeun, Titus Lerner, Robert Kabas, Franz Politzer, and the Japanese artist collective three, whose works captivate with their expressive expression and energetic condensation.

Martina Ziegler, NATURE UNDER CONSTRUCTION © schäfer + schlehwein 2025

The exhibition is complemented by two new additions to the gallery, Nae Zerka and Martina Ziegler, who have made significant international strides this year. Their works combine playful fantasy with precise contours and a clear artistic concept—qualities that have also earned them special attention in Carinthia and beyond in 2025.
The X-Mas Special is more than a classic end-of-year exhibition: it reflects ART SPACE's programmatic commitment to not only continuously presenting contemporary art, but also making it accessible in ever-changing contexts. Between the historic walls, a space is created that impressively showcases the breadth of modern art positions while utilizing the distinctive atmosphere of the location to lend the works a special depth of focus.
With this concentrated exhibition, ART SPACE Stift Millstatt succeeds in concluding the 2025 art year with a clear message: art remains a living, luminous impulse—even and especially in the quietest moments of winter.
December 16 to 21, 2025, 3 to 6 p.m.
www.schaefer-schlehwein.com