The small German city of Elstra has received a remarkable tribute to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the death of its most famous son, painter Otto Garten. During a memorial event held in the city council chamber, the Ernst-Rietschel Cultural Association presented the city with a large-format self-portrait painted by Garten in 1972. The gesture honors the artist who served as an honorary citizen of Elstra and whose works are now found in collections worldwide, including the Dresden State Art Collections.
Many older residents of Elstra still remember Garten personally, recalling how he would walk through the town with his painting supplies, greeting people warmly as he searched for the perfect spot to begin a new work. "The painting is better off with you - here the painter is revered," said Sabine Schubert, chairwoman of the Ernst-Rietschel Cultural Association, during the presentation ceremony. The cultural association owns 45 works by Otto Garten and decided to donate this particular piece to ensure it would be properly appreciated in the artist's hometown.
The memorial event also featured the opening of a new exhibition showcasing Garten's travel paintings from his numerous study trips across Europe. The display focuses on landscapes and scenes of working people that Garten captured during his journeys to France, Italy, Holland, Belgium, and Russia. The exhibition was organized primarily by the Elstra Local History Association in collaboration with the city administration, with Martina Höhn serving as one of the main coordinators.
Benedict Ziesch, who served as the event's keynote speaker, shared personal memories of meeting the artist 34 years ago when he worked as a department head for youth, tourism, and culture in the former Kamenz district. Ziesch recalled visiting Garten at his home, where the painter received him in the courtyard of his rural property and showed him to an outbuilding filled with paintings leaning against the walls. As part of his official duties to support freelance artists through art purchases, Ziesch was able to select several works, including a painting depicting a Sorbian woman in traditional dress from the Schleife region.
Garten's connection to Sorbian culture was significant throughout his career, as he was accepted into the Working Group of Sorbian Visual Artists in 1952 and frequently incorporated Sorbian motifs into his paintings. Schubert, who also knew Garten personally, fondly remembered visiting him at home where she found him resting peacefully on his sofa, completely relaxed and at ease.
The new exhibition, titled with Garten's frequent expression "kurz und knapp" (short and sweet), features artworks from private collections, the artist's extensive estate housed in the Sorbian Museum in Bautzen, and pieces owned by the city of Elstra. The city now possesses more than 50 paintings by Otto Garten, including works that were gifted by local residents whose families had purchased them directly from the artist during his lifetime.
Visitors can view the exhibition at Elstra's city hall through March 31, 2026, during regular business hours or by prior appointment. The display represents not only a celebration of Garten's artistic legacy but also demonstrates the deep connection between the artist and his hometown, where his memory continues to be cherished by residents who knew him as both a talented painter and a friendly neighbor who enriched their community with his presence and artistic vision.
