Introduction
The Fellbach Triennial for Small Sculpture (Triennale Kleinplastik Fellbach) is a distinctive international exhibition focused exclusively on contemporary small-scale sculpture. Established in 1980 in Fellbach, a small town adjacent to Stuttgart in southern Germany, this specialized triennial has become an important platform for examining the evolving role of small-format sculpture in contemporary art practice. Its unique focus provides a counterpoint to the monumental scale often privileged in public and institutional contexts, creating space for more intimate and detailed engagement with three-dimensional work.
Taking place in the historic Alte Kelter (Old Wine Press), a converted 19th-century industrial building in Fellbach's center, the exhibition brings together works by approximately 40-50 international artists every three years. The triennial is characterized by its thoughtful curation, typically exploring specific thematic frameworks that connect contemporary sculptural practices to broader social, political, and philosophical questions. This specialized approach has earned the Fellbach Triennial a respected position within the landscape of international art exhibitions, attracting visitors and participants from around the world to this relatively small German town.
Narrative & Themes
The Fellbach Triennial consistently engages with the distinctive aesthetic, conceptual, and phenomenological qualities of small-scale sculpture, examining how the intimate format affects both artistic expression and viewer experience. Each edition is developed around a central thematic framework that connects contemporary sculptural practice to broader cultural, social, and philosophical questions, creating meaningful contexts for experiencing the diverse works presented.
Recent editions have explored themes such as the relationship between craft and concept in sculptural production, the politics of scale and perception, the materiality of the digital age, the sculptural object in relation to the human body, and the intersections of public and private space. These thematic explorations often reflect upon the changing status of sculptural objects in contemporary society, where physical materiality exists in complex relation to virtual spaces and mass-produced commodities.
A distinctive aspect of the triennial is its attention to the spatial and temporal dimensions of viewing small-scale work. The curatorial approach emphasizes the intimate encounter between viewer and object, creating exhibition designs that encourage close looking and embodied engagement with the works. This focus on the phenomenology of scale creates a distinctive exhibition experience that contrasts with the more spectacular or immersive approaches of many contemporary art biennials, inviting visitors to slow down and attend to material and formal details that might otherwise be overlooked.
History & Development
The Fellbach Triennial was founded in 1980 by the City of Fellbach as part of its cultural development initiative. Initially focused primarily on German and European artists, the exhibition has gradually expanded its international scope while maintaining its specialized focus on small-scale three-dimensional work. Throughout its history, the triennial has played an important role in exploring and documenting the continued relevance of small-format sculpture within contemporary art practice.
The exhibition's development has been shaped by the contributions of numerous guest curators who have brought diverse perspectives to the triennial's core focus. These curators have included prominent international figures in contemporary art as well as specialists in sculptural practice, each bringing distinct viewpoints on the possibilities and significance of small-scale work in different cultural and historical contexts.
Inaugural Fellbach Triennial established with a focus on European sculptural traditions
Expansion of international participation with artists from Asia and the Americas
First edition to incorporate digital and time-based sculptural works
30th anniversary edition exploring the triennial's history and future directions
Expansion to include performance and installation works related to small-scale objects
15th edition exploring themes of materiality in the digital age
Small Sculpture Specialization
The Fellbach Triennial's exclusive focus on small-scale sculpture creates a distinctive niche within the ecosystem of international art exhibitions. This specialization allows for in-depth exploration of questions particular to intimate sculptural formats, such as the relationship between detail and overall form, the role of craftsmanship and material sensibility, and the specific ways small objects relate to human scale and perception.
Over the years, the triennial has expanded its definition of what constitutes "small sculpture," embracing new materials, technologies, and hybrid practices while maintaining its core interest in three-dimensional objects that invite close engagement. This evolution reflects broader shifts in contemporary sculptural practice, where traditional boundaries between sculpture, installation, design, and digital production have become increasingly fluid. By focusing on scale rather than medium or style, the triennial creates space for diverse approaches to three-dimensionality while maintaining conceptual coherence.
Featured Artists
The Fellbach Triennial has presented works by numerous significant contemporary artists throughout its history, bringing together established figures with emerging talents who share an interest in small-scale sculptural expression. Each edition typically features approximately 40-50 international artists whose work engages with the specific thematic framework while demonstrating diverse approaches to three-dimensional form.
Micro-Architectures
Artist: Thomas Schütte
A series of architectural models that explore the relationship between sculpture and built environment, raising questions about scale, representation, and the political dimensions of architectural form through precisely crafted miniature structures.
Material Memories
Artist: Phyllida Barlow
Small-scale sculptures using humble materials like cardboard, plaster, and fabric that investigate the tension between monumentality and intimacy, with forms that suggest fragments of larger structures reduced to personal, tactile dimensions.
Transitional Objects
Artist: Camille Henrot
A collection of small-scale ceramic and bronze figures that merge human, animal, and technological forms, exploring how cultural knowledge and personal experience are embodied in objects of intimate scale.
Portable Landscapes
Artist: Haegue Yang
A series of sculptural assemblages combining found objects, crafted elements, and mechanical components that create miniature environments suggesting narratives of migration, identity, and cultural hybridity.
Exhibition Gallery
Venue
The Fellbach Triennial takes place in the Alte Kelter (Old Wine Press), a historic industrial building in the center of Fellbach. Originally constructed in the late 19th century as a communal wine press for the region's vineyards, this distinctive venue has been carefully adapted to serve as an exhibition space while maintaining its historical character.
The spacious interior of the Alte Kelter, with its exposed wooden beams and brick walls, creates a warm and textured environment that complements the intimate scale of the exhibited works. The building's industrial heritage provides an interesting counterpoint to the often delicate and detailed quality of small sculpture, creating productive tensions between architectural scale and object size.
