WU Vienna University of Economics and Business is making its campus even more attractive by opening the new freely accessible WU Outdoor Gallery. The gallery is a permanent installation where art, research, and business meet. A range of interesting exhibitions will encourage visitors to engage with topics of great social importance.

“Campus WU is a space for dialogue and inspiration. With the WU Outdoor Gallery, we’re doubling down on this vision by creating a permanent spot dedicated to art and culture at our university,” says WU Rector Rupert Sausgruber. “Our goal is to support emerging artists who critically engage with social or economic issues and, at the same time, we also want to highlight the contributions that WU’s researchers make in this area,” Rector Sausgruber points out.

Art as a catalyst for research and society

The new Outdoor Gallery is intended to serve as a platform for cultural dialogue. It aims to strengthen the sense of community among WU’s students, staff, and visitors, while also highlighting topics that WU addresses in its research and in the classroom, from economic issues to social and environmental challenges. In this way, WU underscores its role as an institution that carries inspiration beyond the campus and out into the city. “Art opens up new perspectives and encourages people to think about social issues. This is exactly what we want to achieve with our Outdoor Gallery,” explains Rector Sausgruber.

Inaugural exhibition by Naomi Devil

The first featured artist is Naomi Devil from Hungary, who is presenting works on the topic of the gender pay gap. Her paintings reflect on unequal opportunities and income disparities between women and men, and they address the market value of female artists throughout art history. With this perspective, the exhibition builds bridges between artistic expression, academic research, and social discourse.

A focus on sustainability and dialogue

The Outdoor Gallery has seating areas and solar-powered display cases, providing a vibrant, sustainable space for a roster of temporary exhibitions. The new gallery further raises the appeal and profile of Campus WU as a place of learning, discussion, and dialogue.