Description & Background
Founded in 2006 by Berlin-based artist Anke Becker, ANONYMOUS DRAWINGS is an international conceptual artwork and exhibition platform that has evolved into an established presence within the Berlin art scene.The project operates as a collective, hierarchy-free installation presenting around 600 original drawings by 600 international artists per exhibition, completely omitting artist names and titles.Alongside its main exhibitions, the initiative maintains the ANONYMOUS DRAWINGS ARCHIVE—a growing collection of over 1,500 donated works that travels internationally and offers selected pieces for online acquisition.
Organization Objectives
ANONYMOUS DRAWINGS explores how aesthetic judgment, cultural perception, and perceived value are affected when an artist’s identity, pedigree, and background are entirely removed from view.The project aims to challenge commercial market hierarchies by offering every selected work at a uniform, symbolic placeholder price (€250).By preserving anonymity until a sale occurs—at which point the physical drawing is removed and replaced by the artist’s name and location—the project turns the evolving exhibition itself into a living conceptual artwork that continuously reexamines the relationship between art, the market, and the public.
Programs / Opportunities
- International Open Calls & Exhibitions:Periodic, open-submission calls leading to large-scale wall installations presented without titles or creator attributions.
- Artist Sales & Fair Compensation:Direct artist compensation, where €200 from each €250 artwork sale goes directly to the artist, with the remaining €50 re-invested to fund future open calls and exhibitions.
- ANONYMOUS DRAWINGS ARCHIVE:A dynamic archive and traveling collection of donated works available for physical display and online purchase to support the long-term project ecosystem.
Target Community
- Global Artists & Draughtspeople:Visual artists across all stages of their career, ages, and backgrounds internationally, participating without submission fees or biographical screening.
