STYX Projects was founded in 2008 as a multi-functional art space within the walls of the former brewery Friedrichshöhe. With its rough exterior, graffiti walls, and squat-like environs, Friedrichshöhe quickly became a refuge for young artists seeking both work and display space, as well as a playground for revelers nostalgic for “old school” Berlin.

From the beginning, STYX Projects distinguished itself by refusing to focus on a particular “scene” or style of art. The gallery’s idiosyncratic exhibition program—which includes not only visual art, but also live music, performances, and readings—reflects both the flexibility of the space and the diverse interests of curator Michael Rade. Refuting both the trend-seeking affirmations of the global art market and the impersonality of the white-walled institution, STYX Projects occupies a unique space in Berlin cultural life.

In August 2010 STYX Projects opened a second branch, situated in a similarly nontraditional environment, a former Victorian police station in New Cross, London.