The Hans Mayer Gallery was established in 1965 in Esslingen, Germany. Exhibitions on themes such as Op Art, Contemporary Constructivism and Kinetic Art made the gallery very prominent in the 1960’s. Since 1971, the gallery has been based in Düsseldorf.
In 1969, Hans Mayer was the first to expose Andy Warhol in Düsseldorf, which furthermore lead to the renowned encounter of Joseph Beuys and Andy Warhol in 1979.
In 1989, Nam June Paik joined the gallery. Hans Mayer then added American artists such as Frank Stella, Ellsworth Kelly, Sol LeWitt, Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein, Tom Wesselmann and representatives of a younger generation, including Keith Haring, Basquiat, Kenny Scharf, Robert Longo, Bill Beckley and Tony Oursler to his program. Furthermore, in 1995, one of the landmark shows of the American appropriation artist Elaine Sturtevant took place in the gallery. Jürgen Klauke, C.O. Paeffgen, Ben Willikens, and Markus Oehlen represent European art.
Photography also plays an important role in the gallery’s history. Hans Mayer introduced Peter Lindbergh work to an artistic audience and was the first one to expose Helmut Newton in Germany. Shows by Karl Lagerfeld and Dennis Hopper were also part of the widespread gallery program.
Since 2015 the gallery represents the South-African artist Zander Blom.
The highlight of the reopening of the gallery at its former location at the Grabbeplatz in Düsseldorf, in September 2011 was a selective and secret 3-D concert by the German electro band ‘Kraftwerk’.
Apart from gallery exhibitions, Hans Mayer has ever since been dealing in post 1945 European and American Art, he is also specialized in large outdoor sculptures and installations.
On the 4th of June 2008, Hans Mayer obtained the European Gallery Award for his forty yearlong engagements towards contemporary art. Today, still being one of the two only galleries to be present without interruption at Art Basel since it’s existence.