The Facts
On October 27, 2026, Lisson Gallery announced that Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin will present the exhibition 'Ulay, Ulay & Abramović' from November 28, 2026 to May 2, 2027. The show explores the 12-year collaboration between Marina Abramović and Ulay, who met in Amsterdam in 1975 and developed an uncompromising performance practice using their bodies to investigate identity, vulnerability and endurance. It includes seminal works such as 'Relation in Space' (1976), presented at the Venice Biennale, and 'The Lovers' (1988), their 90-day journey along the Great Wall of China. Also featured are early solo works by Ulay, including 'S’he' (1973–74) and 'FOTOTOT' (1976), as well as his 1976 intervention 'Irritation – There is a Criminal Touch to Art', in which he removed Carl Spitzweg's painting 'The Poor Poet' (1839) from the museum. A live presentation of 'Imponderabilia' (1977) will take place daily from 3 to 4:30 pm.
The Signal
The exhibition signals the continued institutional reckoning with performance art’s ephemeral legacy, pairing archival documentation with live reenactment. For collectors, the focus on Ulay’s solo practice—often overshadowed by the duo’s fame—highlights a market segment that remains relatively undervalued. The inclusion of Imponderabilia as a live work underscores the growing trend among museums to activate historical performances, offering audiences a direct, physical engagement that static displays cannot provide.
- Artists: Marina Abramović, Ulay
- Galleries: Lisson Gallery
- Museums: Neue Nationalgalerie
- Locations: Berlin
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