Good day,
Attached is a press release from the city of St. Ingbert with a request for publication.
A sharp eye and impressive complexity characterize the winner of the Albert Weisgerber Prize 2026
The Saarland painter and draftsman Armin Rohr was awarded the Albert Weisgerber Prize for Fine Arts 2026 on May 12th. Around 300 guests attended the festive award ceremony in the St. Ingbert town hall. The Albert Weisgerber Prize, alongside the Saarland Art Prize, is one of the most prestigious cultural awards in the region and honors outstanding achievements in fine arts.
The expert jury honored Armin Rohr for "his outstanding artistic creation, characterized by high quality and unmistakability." In more than three decades of productive artistic work, his oeuvre reveals a remarkable versatility and complexity. Abstract color compositions with expressive brushstrokes that only hint at representational forms are found in his vividly colored paintings, as well as figurative worlds of images that remain unfathomable and enigmatic despite narrative elements.
With experimental sound compositions, the duo "les éclats du son" accompanied the presentation of Armin Rohr's artworks on the large screen in the city hall on the occasion of the celebration event. In his tribute, Mayor Dr. Ulli Meyer subsequently emphasized the artistic work of the award winner and addressed the question of the importance of art and culture in today's society: "Art and culture are essential to the core of our society, as they connect people, foster cohesion, and encourage the courage to try new things and explore new paths. They strengthen togetherness through exchange and create shared experiential spaces. Art is always also an instrument of international understanding. Wherever artists—no matter where they come from—exchange ideas, not only art is created, but peoples also understand each other. We exclude no one." In this context, the mayor emphasized his clear position that Israeli artists are also welcome in our country. "If we restrict contact within the art scene, we all become poorer artistically—and less humane!" were his clear words, which were rewarded by spontaneous applause from the audience.
In the subsequent laudation by Dr. Petra Wilhelmy, the art historian portrayed the artistic work of award winner Armin Rohr with apt words: “Armin Rohr has a sharp eye and captures sensory impressions; he essentially captures moments. Among his artist colleagues, he enjoys great respect, although his art often polarizes. Daring combinations—often quirky and colorful—are his trademark. 'I could spend my life looking at pictures,' he once said. This statement vividly illustrates how deeply his life is connected to painting. Being honored here today with the Albert Weisgerber Prize is a fitting recognition of his decades-long work. Heartfelt thanks for your thought-provoking and visual impulses!”
After another musical performance with piano and percussion, Armin Rohr warmly thanked everyone for the award: "This prize means a great deal to me and is a great honor. I have always had deep respect for the works of Albert Weisgerber. That my works have now been deemed worthy of receiving this significant award truly honors me. I thank you all for coming this evening to celebrate with me."
About the person:
Armin Rohr was born in 1961 and lives and works as a freelance artist in Saarbrücken. After studying design at the former University of Applied Sciences for Design in Saarbrücken, which was particularly influenced by the foundational teaching of Oskar Holweck, he initially worked for agencies in Stuttgart and Saarbrücken. Already during his studies, he developed an intense focus on color and painting, which from then on became the centerpiece of his artistic work.
In the mid-1990s, he began studying painting at the University of Fine Arts Saar. There, he studied under Bodo Baumgarten and became his master student. Today, Armin Rohr works, among other things, as a lecturer at the HBKsaar evening school.
In more than three decades of artistic work, he developed a multifaceted body of work between abstraction and figuration. His works are characterized by expressive colorfulness, gestural painting, and enigmatic visual worlds. With his distinctive artistic approach, he is considered one of the prominent artistic personalities of the Saarland.
Awards and Prizes (Selection):
Photos: Thomas Bastuck
BU1: The artist Armin Rohr (center) was visibly pleased about receiving the Albert Weisgerber Prize from Mayor Dr. Ulli Meyer (left) and Deputy Albrecht Hauck.
BU2: Armin Rohr sincerely thanked for this significant award.
