Art Cologne Announces Daniel Hug as New Director

COLOGNE, Germany—Daniel Hug will serve as the new director of the 40-year-old Art Cologne, effective May 1, Bloomberg reports. Hug, a gallery owner, dealer, and the grandson of Hungarian artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, succeeds Gerard Goodrow, who stepped down in January amid concerns over the state of the event. With exhibitors and collectors leaving for other fairs, and last year's visitors down by 10,000 from the year before, many have become concerned about the event's credibility. A group of Cologne art dealers including Christian Nagel and Monika Sprueth wrote an open letter that laments the fair's "bitter loss of status."

This year's Art Cologne, running from April 16 to April 20, will feature 150 instead of 180 galleries, in an effort to increase the quality of the work being shown. There will also be fewer side events. The fair's management hopes that Hug will help effect a turnaround, saying in a written statement, "With Daniel Hug, we have found someone who knows the scene, has profound knowledge of art and the art market, and combines that with experience of organizing fairs."