Friedrich Becker. Born to Play

May 25, 2022 would have been Friedrich Becker’s 100th birthday. The jubilee exhibition at the Goldsmiths’ House presents the extensive oeuvre of this goldsmith and kinetic artist with around 120 exhibits and numerous media terminals.

Beginning with early works and classic silver utensils, the exhibition draws an arc from material purism and new materials via variable and kinetic jewelry to the documentation of large kinetic objects. The Wellenkinetik (1990), a permanent installation at the Goldsmiths’ House, rotates in the stairwell and is an impressive specimen of Friedrich Becker’s space-consuming works.

A major part of the jewelry and objects only unfolds its full potential in movement. Individual physical stimuli are translated: wearing Becker’s jewelry is always a particular adventure. For the exhibition, thanks to the experiences of Michael Berger, for many years an employee in the Becker workshop and himself a kinetic jewelry artist, a special presentation has been developed for the kinetic exhibits. This enables visitors to activate a large number of the jewelry items and to comprehend the wearing momentum in the exhibition.

A host of photos, documents, sketches, and videos shows the contexts and creative processes of the works. Interviews with companions and former students additionally make the artist Friedrich Becker approachable.
Works by the holders of the Friedrich Becker Award Düsseldorf and a selection of works by students -Michael Berger, Hans Hermann Lingenbrinck, Barbara Schulte-Hengesbach, Günter Wermekes- impressively demonstrate the enduring influence of his creativity.
The holders of the Friedrich Becker Award Düsseldorf, which was endowed by Hildegard Becker in 1999 and is handed over by the Association for Goldsmiths’ Art, play an integral role in the exhibition. The next award-winner will be distinguished in May 2023.


Friedrich Becker (1922–1997).

• 1922 Born in Ende near Hagen, raised in Grevenstein/Sauerland.
• Engine fitter apprenticeship in Düsseldorf.
• 1940 Attendance at the School of Engineering for Aviation Technology in Thorn/Weichsel.
• 1947 Studies at the School of Applied Arts in Düsseldorf.
• 1951 Exam.
• 1952 Craftsman’s examination and own workshop, Düsseldorf.
• Assistant to Professor Karl Schollmayer.
• 1964 Leader of the Metal Design (Gold and Silver) working group at the School of Applied Arts in Düsseldorf.
• 1970 Director of Studies and Head of Pedagogics.
• 1973 Appointment as Professor to the University of Applied Arts Düsseldorf.
• 1982 Retirement.
• 1997 Death in Düsseldorf.

Exhibition fringe events

• Sunday guided tours: Aug. 21, Sep. 25, and Oct. 16, 2022, at 3 p.m. Admission incl. tour €6.00.
• Evening guided tours: Jul. 28 and Aug. 25, 2022, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Admission free.
• Talk on Sep. 8, 7 p.m.: “Abundance in simplicity. Friedrich Becker’s timelessly modern jewelry art”, speaker: Dr. Rüdiger Joppien, retired senior curator Kunstgewerbemuseum Hamburg. Admission free.

Financial supporters: Brauerei Veltins, Heike and Dr. Rainer Kappes, lenders: RSV Sammlung, Katholische Kirchengemeinde St. Antonius und Elisabeth, Düsseldorf, Die Neue Sammlung – The Design Museum München, private lenders.