Roundtable with Karen Boros, Co-Founder of the Boros Collection in Berlin

IE School of Humanities had the pleasure of welcoming Karen Boros, co-founder of the Boros Collection, to the IE Tower for an intimate roundtable session with students and faculty. The Boros Collection is one of Europe’s most acclaimed private collections of contemporary art, featuring works by globally recognized artists such as Olafur Eliasson, Ai Weiwei, Sarah Lucas, Wolfgang Tillmans, and Danh Vo.

What makes the collection truly remarkable is its location—a converted World War II bunker in the center of Berlin. Spanning over 3,000 square meters, the space offers a powerful intersection between historical architecture and modern artistic expression, creating an unparalleled setting for both art display and cultural reflection.

During the roundtable, Karen Boros shared the story and vision behind the collection, shedding light on the motivation for its founding, the curatorial process, and the importance of context and architecture in shaping the viewer’s experience. Participants also explored the challenges and responsibilities of managing a private collection, with a focus on accessibility and fostering meaningful public engagement.

The event offered a rare opportunity for the IE community to learn from a key figure in the international art world and reflect on how art collections can serve not only as cultural repositories but also as platforms for dialogue and transformation.