Thomas Ondertoller from Obereggen at the Bolzano Christmas Market
Andy Warhol’s Pop Art reaches new heights in the heart of the Dolomites. Obereggen is preparing to celebrate a special anniversary with an exhibition dedicated to one of the most important figures in contemporary art: From March 13 to 29, 2027, ten original works by the American artist will be on display at an altitude of 2,096 meters inside the Oberholz mountain hut, at the foot of the Latemar massif. The initiative marks the tenth anniversary of the mountain hut, which opened on November 26, 2016, and is one of the most anticipated events of the upcoming winter season. The works, provided by the Milan-based Deodato Arte gallery, will bring Pop Art to a decidedly unusual setting, far from traditional exhibition circuits.
There are places where one expects to encounter Andy Warhol, such as major museums, galleries, and international art capitals. And then there’s the Oberholz lodge, on the Obereggen side of the mountain, where the works of the father of Pop Art will interact with the lodge’s contemporary architecture and the landscape of the Dolomites. The selection includes some of the most famous subjects from Warhol’s artistic universe: Marilyn Monroe, Campbell’s Soup, Flowers, and Ladies and Gentlemen. Among the works on display are also three unique pieces and two works from the “Flowers” series, featuring hand-painted details that reveal the variety of techniques and artistic languages used by the artist.
The exhibition will be free and open to all visitors, as explained by Thomas Ondertoller, head of communications and marketing at the Obereggen Latemar Spa ski lift company: “This year, our Oberholz mountain hut is celebrating its tenth anniversary. It is located at the foot of the Latemar, at an elevation of 2,096 meters, and to celebrate this milestone, we have decided—together with the Deodato Arte gallery in Milan—to bring ten original works by Andy Warhol to this high-altitude location during the final weeks of the winter season. “The exhibition will be free and open to everyone,” said Ondertoller.
The Warhol exhibition will be one of the highlights of the winter season, but the partnership between Obereggen and Bolzano will begin as early as late November, with the opening of the ski lifts and the traditional Christmas markets. The South Tyrolean ski resort has, in fact, been a partner of the Christmas event for about thirty years, and this year, too, the two openings will take place in quick succession: the Bolzano Christmas Market will open on Thursday, November 26, while Obereggen’s ski lifts will begin operating on Friday, November 27, at 8:30 a.m., marking the start of the winter season in the resort. “Obereggen has been a partner of the Bolzano Christmas Markets for thirty years now, and we open practically at the same time. The market’s opening will be on November 26, while our lifts will open the following morning at 8:30 a.m. to welcome the first skiers,” explained Ondertoller.
This collaboration allows tourists to easily combine two different experiences during the same vacation, moving from the ski slopes to the Christmas atmosphere of the historic center. “The two experiences go together perfectly. You can ski on our slopes early in the morning and then, in the afternoon, reach Bolzano in just twenty minutes from Obereggen to immerse yourself in the magic of the Christmas Market. Of course, you can also do it the other way around: visit the markets and then spend some time exploring the Dolomites—whether by skiing, sledding, taking a leisurely walk, or enjoying lunch at a mountain hut,” concluded the communications and marketing manager.
