“My father took me to Schalke’s stadium for the cup final back in 1978 when I was nine. Sadly, Fortuna Düsseldorf lost to Cologne, but it was enough to make me a Fortuna fan.”

Klaus Rosskothen’s reputation for urban art extends far beyond Düsseldorf. During UEFA EURO 2024, he demonstrated that the tournament was not only a footballing highlight for Düsseldorf but also a significant cultural occasion. Five giant murals now adorn once drab house walls across the city, from Rather Strasse to Oberbilker Markt, and all curated by Klaus Rosskothen. He was also responsible for the artistic programme in the project That’s Büdchen on Corneliusplatz, a live art event that took place on each of the five match days hosted by Düsseldorf – featuring plenty of music, partying and, of course, altbier. We met up with the gallery owner for an interview.

Five giant murals were created for UEFA EURO 2024 in Düsseldorf.  How did this come about?
We had developed the idea the year before. The initial concept came from Boris Bartels and his agency Dreimarketing. The idea behind Kultur meets EURO 24 was to present Düsseldorf as a creative and authentic city with a flourishing arts scene. We wanted to show that it was not simply a franchise-dominated UEFA city like all the others. The result was five large-scale murals painted by artists from nations who played here during the tournament.

Where are these paintings?
They’re all over the city. The murals by Alexis ‘Bust’ Stephens and EPOD can be seen at Inselstrasse 1 and Kaiserstrasse 27 in Pempelfort, right next to Hofgarten Park. SAM3 of Spain painted on a gigantic wall at the entrance to the Kultur-Schlachthof at Rather Strasse 25. Artistic duo Jana & JS tackled the wall of a department store at Oberbilker Markt, which plenty of people are bound to have seen. But Düsseldorf locals are most likely to identify with the big Klaus Allofs mural at Cranachstrasse 52. It shows the city’s legendary footballer celebrating during EURO 1980 in the match against the Netherlands, in which Allofs scored three goals. Düsseldorf artist Damian Bautsch painted this mural.

During UEFA EURO 2024, further activities took place next to the department store on Corneliusplatz. What went on?
In parallel to the Büdchen Day events that were held on Corneliusplatz every match day, people could watch large-scale canvasses being painted live. While bands and DJs performed on the big stage, artists painted 3.5 metre by 2.5 metre panels. It was really great, because passers-by and fans alike could watch the pictures being created and chat to the artists as they worked. A fan from Albania even got one of the artists to quickly paint his country’s emblem on his cheek right before the game.

Are the murals still on show?
The panels were exhibited on Corneliusplatz until the end of July. This big open space was an amazing place to showcase works of art. It was also beneficial for the city’s tourism, as an open gallery always attracts visitors.

Had you organised any urban art exhibitions in public spaces before the Euros?
Yes, of course! My first one was back in 2013 when I co-initiated and co-founded the urban art festival 40 Grad. The large murals that were created for that can still be seen in Düsseldorf to this day. Renowned artists took part, including Pixelpancho of Italy, BTOY of Spain and Case from the Maclaim Crew − along with local artists. Another major project was Pretty Wall Bilk at Bilk train station, where there is now a large open-air museum exhibiting lots of artworks together.

And you run guided tours for people who’d like to find out more about urban art in Düsseldorf.
Yes, that’s right. Every Saturday, I lead a tour here in Düsseldorf, the Urban Art Walk, where I show people urban art in public spaces. It’s a chance for me to share my knowledge, experience and insights from Düsseldorf’s urban art scene. Groups can also book an urban art ride, which is a cycling tour that takes you around the city and even visits the large murals that are located outside the city centre.

What got you into urban art?
I first got involved with graffiti when I was young. That was back in the mid-1980s, so I was one of Düsseldorf’s graffiti pioneers. This art form has held me in its grip ever since, even though I stopped actively creating works five or six years later. But the creative expression continued to have an influence. Almost 18 years ago, I finally opened the Pretty Portal gallery. This was at a time when artists such as Banksy and Shepard Fairey were bringing about a significant shift in the public perception of urban art.

Now a question about the beautiful game. What’s your relationship with football?
My father took me to Schalke’s stadium for the cup final back in 1978 when I was nine. Sadly, Fortuna Düsseldorf lost to Cologne, but it was enough to make me a Fortuna fan. I’ve been going to the team’s matches ever since. And I even played up to youth B team level at Düsseldorf’s DSC 99 sports club.

You were born in Düsseldorf. How do you think the city has changed?
In the context of urban art, the city has embraced this art form over the past 15 years. When we launched the first 40 Grad festival in 2013, we had to get by with the tiniest amount of resources and public money. Today, the financial support is much better. A friend recently said to me that, as young people creating graffiti, we were hunted down. Now, we are given money to do things that emerged from the graffiti scene!

What are your favourite places in Düsseldorf?
I like Düsseldorf’s green spaces, such as Volksgarten park, Nordpark and Paradiesstrand beach. It’s lovely to cycle along the Rhine promenade towards Kaiserswerth. As a long-standing Düsseldorf resident, I remember the city before the tunnel was built. The traffic meant that the Rhine promenade wasn’t nice at all. It’s almost impossible to imagine how it used to be. And Düsseldorf is also home to some fantastic museums and exhibitions.

Do you have any tips for art lovers?
Well, I just mentioned the great museums and exhibitions that Düsseldorf has to offer. The redesigned  Kunstpalast is certainly worth visiting. You really should go there because the exhibits have been superbly curated and presented. And I’d recommend cycling towards Neuss to visit the Skulpturenhalle, the Langen Foundation and the Hombroich Museum Island. It makes for a perfect weekend outing, with plenty of nature, art and culture to enjoy.

prettyportal.com

Text: Clemens Henle
Photos: Pretty Portal/Dreimarketing and further photos with kind permission of Klaus Rosskothen