Legendary figure Hartmut Rausch, who is currently running the Golden Rausch Bar in the Artist’s Lounge, is not only the much-loved long-term caretaker (or hausmeister, as they call him) of the Städelschule in Frankfurt but also a considerable art collector in his own right. This is due to the multitude of works gratefully and affectionately given to him by generations of the school’s tutors and alumni, including Martin Kippenberger, Georg Herold, Tobias Rehberger, Wolfgang Tillmans and current Städelschule tutor Mark Leckey— whose class was invited by Art Basel to set up the Artist’s Lounge and its programme of DJs, special artist projects and secret late nights. In fact, such is the extent of Mr Rausch’s collection that it goes on view next month at the Portikus centre for contemporary art, Frankfurt, in a special exhibition, and as a result even more aspiring artists are now showering him with gifts in the hope that their work will get a Portikus showing.
Originally appeared in The Art Newspaper as 'The caretaker collector'