Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The vernissage of the artist group Groupe Smirage

From: Anna Hausmann

Last publication: 11.12.2024

Gruppenbild: Eröffnung der Vernissage — Von Mitte Mai bis Anfang Juni 2024 verwandelte sich das Foyer der BayWa-Zentrale in eine Kunstgalerie, mit Bildern der Künstlergruppe Group Smirage.

Portraits, landscapes and always cows: the vernissage of the group of artists from the Pfennigparade Foundation attracts many visitors to the BayWa headquarters. The money from every picture sold goes to the artists.

Chic gallery instead of foyer

In the 1980s, artists with disabilities came together in the rooms of the Pfennigparade Foundation. They began to paint and eventually gave themselves the pleasantly ironic name “Groupe Smirage”. Since 2009, BayWa has repeatedly made the foyer of the company headquarters at Arabellastrasse 4 available to the artists. The entrance area is then transformed into a chic gallery.

Proceeds go to the Pfennigparade Foundation

This year, the artists transported more than 100 paintings from Milbertshofen to Bogenhausen. The guests at the vernissage in May 2024 were thrilled: portraits, landscapes, animals, abstracts - the range of pictures is vast and astonishing. The works are not only exhibited, they can also be purchased. The proceeds go directly to the Groupe Smirage without any deductions.

Incidentally, the patron of the Groupe Smirage exhibition is Bavaria's Minister of Social Affairs, Ulrike Scharf. She says: “The Groupe Smirage exhibition is a colorful vernissage for life! BayWa and Pfennigparade make art accessible to everyone and make people forget their disabilities. It clearly shows that there are no limits to creativity and inclusion!”