Image: Center for Modern and Contemporary Art Debrecen
The MODEM Modern and Contemporary Art Centre in Debrecen will mark its 20th anniversary with ‘MODEM 20: Selection from the MODEM Collection’, an exhibition bringing together works chosen by 20 local partner institutions alongside artists connected to the centre’s history. The exhibition will be on view from 15 March through 25 October 2026 on the third floor of MODEM in Debrecen, Hungary. Don Tamás is the curator.
Founded in 2006, MODEM has developed its programme in close cooperation with cultural and educational organisations in Debrecen. For the anniversary presentation, the centre invited 20 partner institutions to select one work from its collection and provide a written explanation of their choice. The resulting presentation is intended to offer a kaleidoscopic view of the collection through the perspectives of organisations and individuals that have worked with MODEM during its first two decades.
The participating partners include the literary, art and critical journal Alföld; the Antal–Lusztig Collection; Campus Festival; the Botanical Garden and several faculties and departments of the University of Debrecen; the Déri Museum; the Museum of the Reformed College of Debrecen; KULTer.hu; the Méliusz Juhász Péter Library; Vojtina Puppet Theatre; and representatives of the city of Debrecen. The list also includes the latest recipient of the MODEM Prize, artist Juhász Nóra, as well as MODEM pass holders.
A second section focuses on artists whose work is connected to MODEM—for example, through earlier exhibitions—but whose pieces had not previously been acquired for the collection. The exhibition includes works by Balogh Kristóf József, Berhidi Mária, Birkás Ákos, Bögös Loránd, Bukta Imre, Centrala, Csizik Balázs, Daniel Godínez Nivón, Erhardt Miklós, Erményi Mátyás, Ganczaugh Miklós, Gerber Pál, Gosztola Kitti, Gróf Ferenc, Imreh Sándor, Kiss Richárd, Kortmann-Járay Katalin and Mendreczky Karina, Kristóf Gábor, Nagy Csilla, Oláh Norbert, Pacsika Rudolf, Pettendi-Szabó Péter, Société Réaliste, Rózsa Luca, Szabó Ádám, Szász Lilla, Szilágyi Lenke, Váczi Lilla, Vincze Ottó and Wiosna van Bon.
The exhibition therefore combines two approaches to the collection. The first gives interpretive authority to Debrecen’s cultural, educational and civic partners, while the second extends the presentation toward artists who have contributed to MODEM’s exhibition programme or institutional network without yet being represented through acquisitions. The selection spans artists and groups from different generations and practices, including Birkás Ákos, Bukta Imre, Société Réaliste and the architectural collective Centrala.
‘MODEM 20: Selection from the MODEM Collection’ will be presented at MODEM Modern and Contemporary Art Centre, 4026 Debrecen, Hunyadi János utca 1–3. The centre is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm, and on Wednesdays from noon to 8pm; it is closed on Mondays. The exhibition runs until 25 October 2026.
