INFOFLASH N° 101 – Impressionnisms Routes in Germany – Solingen Artist’s Colony

Two exhibitions featuring Bettina Heinen-Ayech (1937–2020), Erwin Bowien (1899–1972) and Amud Uwe Millies (1932–2008) of the Solingen Artists’ Colony are taking place under the titles ‘Solingen meets Churfranken’ and ‘Bettina Heinen-Ayech and the Solingen Artists’ Colony’.

Solingen meets Churfranken – Exhibition at the Kunstraum in Churfranken
From March 21 to May 31, 2026
The three most important artists of the historic Solingen Artists’ Colony “Black House” were Bettina Heinen-Ayech (1937–2020), Erwin Bowien (1899–1972) and Amud Uwe Millies (1932–2008). These landscape painters, who were important representatives of plein air painting, travelled the world in the second half of the 20th century with their expressive works.
Kunstraum in Churfranken e.V, Hauptstrasse 29, 63911 Klingenberg am Main (Germany), kunstraum-churfranken.de

Bettina Heinen-Ayech and the Solingen Artists’ Colony – Exhibition at Wasserburg Haus Graven e.V.
From April 12 to July 5, 2026
Bettina Heinen-Ayech (1937–2020) and her work are back in the spotlight of the art world. This significant painter is experiencing a renaissance. She has just been recognized as one of the 50 most significant women in the history of North Rhine-Westphalia. This exhibition showcases a selection of her pieces alongside works by other key figures from the historic Solingen Artists’ Colony, located close to the venue.
Wasserburg Haus Graven e.V. , Haus Graven 1, 40764 Langenfeld (Germany), www.haus-graven.de

About the Solingen Artists’ Colony
In the early 1920s, Erna Heinen-Steinhoff (1898–1969), an educated and emancipated woman, and her husband, the poet and journalist Hanns Heinen (1895–1961), founded a cultural and literary salon in Solingen modelled on 19th-century salons. Their homes were given the memorable names ‘Red House’ and ‘Black House’. The ‘Black House’ was frequented by famous personalities such as the Nobel Prize winners for literature Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) from India and Sigrid Undset (1882–1949) from Norway.

At the end of the 1920s, the Heinen couple met the painter Erwin Bowien (1899–1972). He introduced them to a community of painters. Alongside artists Bettina Heinen-Ayech (1937–2020) and Amud Uwe Millies (1932–2008), he formed the ‘Painting Triumvirate’ of Solingen. This group revived the traditional concept of landscape painting. In contrast to the contemporary art trend towards abstraction, they painted in a figurative style and considered themselves to be part of the tradition of classical plein air painting and the great Artist Colonies of the turn of the century. Their idiosyncratic artistic work soon attracted attention and acclaim; they created unique portraits, landscapes, and cityscapes. They always painted on location to fully capture what they saw, immediately capturing the light and atmosphere.

The Solingen Artist’s Colony is an active member of Impressionisms Routes^©

The Solingen Artist’s Colony
Dr Haroun AYECH
Chairman of the Board
Neuenkamperstrasse 163
42657 SOLINGEN, Germany
www.bettina-heinen-ayech-foundation.com
mail@bettina-heinen-ayech-foundation.com

Impressionisms Routes^©
Georges LUCENET
Vice-Président et Délégué Général
41 boulevard Vital Bouhot
92200 NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE, France
www.impressionismsroutes.fr
lucenet.georges@wanadoo.fr

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