Haus der Kunst is one of the world’s leading art museums without a permanent collection of its own.
It is dedicated to the field of contemporary art and hosts around ten exhibitions a year, showcasing pieces by both up-and-coming talent and already established artists. Over the past 20 years, visitors have had the chance to immerse themselves in work by artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Matthew Barney, Andreas Gursky, Thomas Ruff, Gilbert&George, William Egglestone, Georg Baselitz, Gerhard Richter, Ai Weiwei, Louise Bourgeois, Marlene Dumas, Amrita Sher-Gil and Hanne Darboven.
In 2011, its former air-raid shelter in the basement was converted to provide a venue for an ever-changing selection of video art from the Goetz collection. The Haus der Kunst also tells the story of its own past in the Archiv Gallery, a free exhibition containing films, maps and objects from the time of National Socialism and the post-war period.
The building was first opened by Adolf Hitler in 1937 when it was known as “Haus der Deutschen Kunst” or “House of German Art”. Its unique history is reflected in the original paintings on the walls in the building’s “Golden Bar”, named after the mural found there. The bar offers refreshment for visitors during the day and remains open in the evening once the museum has closed.
Also of interest: plan ahead now – see the official city portal muenchen.de for current cultural highlights and a comprehensive calendar of events.
