The €10,000 prize, which is awarded annually by the German association of galleries and art dealers (BVDG) and Koelnmesse, honours “exceptional performances in the communication of art.” Herzog has exerted a considerable influence over ZADIK during the past 15 years. Founded in 1992, the institution is devoted to preserving and researching the archives of major galleries, art dealers, art critics, curators, collectors and professional photographers. During his time at ZADIK, Herzog worked to ensure that these resources are not only inventoried in the institution’s archives, but are also made accessible through digitalization, exhibitions and publications.
Herzog was instrumental in developing ZADIK’s series of writings entitled Mitteilungen zur Geschichte des Kunsthandels (news on the history of the art trade), overseeing the publication of 26 volumes. The series explores the history of the art trade through the lense of primary source material such as letters exchanged between dealers and collectors.
Under Herzog’s director, ZADIK developed cooperative ventures with the Documenta archive in Kassel, the Documentation Centre for Contemporary Art in Vienna and the Guggenheim Foundation in New York, all of which garnered international recognition.
The prize will be awarded on Wednesday, 26 April 2017 in the historic city hall of Cologne, coinciding with the start of Art Cologne.
