Visual Arts & Design

From Renaissance master Albrecht Dürer and 19th-century romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich to the expressionists of the early 20th century and the multi-faceted approach to the arts initiated by the legendary Bauhaus, Germany has an extraordinarily rich artistic tradition.

Contemporary German artists, photographers, and designers have continued to help redefine what is considered avant-garde internationally. Meanwhile, the large concentrations of German and international artists who reside in art cities such as Berlin, Cologne, and Munich have made these cities attractive locations for art and design fairs, boutique shops, galleries, and exhibition spaces.

Dresden Skyline

Dresden’s Showpiece

The Dresden State Art Collections, whose museums showcase treasures collected by the Saxon electors as well as world-class Old Master paintings and contemporary artworks, are sparkling once again. The historic treasure room of the Green Vault reopened in 2006, the Albertinum and Turkish Chamber, in 2010. 

"Espaliered Girl," a sculpture by Laura Ford, was part of a special exhibition at the Frieder Burda Museum. © picture-alliance/ dpa

Between Private Tastes and Public Influence

Never before have there been so many private collectors making extensive acquisitions of contemporary art. They are highly sought after and receive wide media coverage and international attention. Are they the real key figures of a global art business?

Models in front of the "East Side Gallery" in Berlin © picture-alliance/ dpa

A Brilliant Past and Much Potential for the Future – Fashion in Berlin

Creativity aplenty and more and more savvy – step by step Berlin is managing to establish itself as a fashion mecca. International trade fairs and fashion events complement and highlight the local talent, rejuvenating Berlin's reputation in the fashion world.

Camera © Colourbox.com

Branching Out: The Leading Schools of Photography in Germany

Photography training in postwar Germany has thrived on what turned out to be a fruitful rivalry between East and West. Then as now, photography training is still a traditional academic system of class-based tutelage, but it is branching out in diverse directions.

Design objects from the sixties on display in the Museum für Angewandte Kunst in Cologne © picture-alliance/ dpa

Intermediaries between History and the Present Day – Design Museums in Germany

At first glance design museums seem to be a contradiction in terms, but the discipline of design is now over a hundred years old and boasts a rich history. The German design museum scene includes both public and privately-funded institutions as well as company museums.

Visual Arts & Design

Frankfurt's Städel Museum Celebrates Opening of New, Underground Extension

View of the garden/roof of the new extension

The opening of the spectacular new wing of Frankfurt's Städel Museum marks a major milestone in the nearly 200-year-old museum's history. The gleaming extension, at 3,000 square meters, offers ample space for around 300 works of art in the museum's contemporary collection.

Related Links:

MoMA’s website dedicated to German Expressionism features more than 3,200 Expressionist works on paper from its vast collection. It includes an overview of the movement and a searchable online collection as well as a chronology of the Expressionist era detailing the major cultural and political events and an interactive map of Germany.

German Expressionism Website

MoMA’s Homepage