About

On 11 June 2001 the first large photo and camera gallery in Vienna opened at Westbahnstrasse 40, 1070 Vienna. Founded on the initiative of a group of aficionados and collectors, it is a non-profit association striving to widen the importance of photography and its development in Austria.

Located the very heart of Vienna's photo district, WestLicht emerged as a key space to showcase the finest creations from the history of the photographic medium.

›WestLicht strives to explore the interrelation between camera technology and the photographic image, between apparatus and print.‹

WHAT'S ON VIEW?

WestLicht puts on display four to five main exhibitions on the history of photography per year, accompanied by smaller displays working with contemporary artists in the upper gallery space. Every year in September and October, WestLicht becomes the home of the World Press Photo exhibition. Milestones illustrating the development of camera technology are permanently on view in the camera museum.

THE CAMERA COLLECTION

About 360 historically and technically important objects, starting with the prehistory of photography and going up to the first digital cameras make the WestLicht camera museum one of the most impressive displays on camera technology in the world.

LOCATION

Just across the street from WestLicht was once the site of the first building of the Graphische Bundeslehr- und Versuchsanstalt founded in 1888. The district today is a favourite neighbourhood among creatives and with a flourishing infrastructure of camera stores, printers and framers is perfectly fitted for the needs of photographers.

ARCHITECTURE

WestLicht is located in a former glass factory which was then used as a photo studio. The conversion into an exhibition space was carried out by architects Eichinger oder Knechtl in 2001. Specially designed display cases and a lighting system were created to emphasize the minimalist space and accentuate the objects.

WHO

The foundation of WestLicht was initiated by Peter Coeln who currently serves as the chairman of the Verein zur Förderung der Fotografie (association for the promotion of photography) WestLicht. He counts among the most important collectors of camera technology in the world.