2015-05-06 Düsseldorf, K20 Grabbeplatz, Deutschland
The Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen is the private art collection of North Rhine-Westphalia, located in the capital Düsseldorf. This art institution comprises three branches: the Grabbeplatz K20 5 K21 in the Ständehaus in Ständehausstraße 1 and Schmela-Haus in the Mutter-Ey-Straße 3. The Kunstsammlung was founded in 1961 by the state government as a private foundation with aims to bring together a public collection and exhibit.
In the 50 years of its existence, the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen has profiled itself as an international museum of art from the 20th century. The basis of the collection was laid with the acquisition of works by Paul Klee, but now this collection is enhanced with contemporary art. The building on the Grabbeplatz (K20) with its distinctive facade of black granite was opened in 1989. In 2010, a major new construction was completed.
The special quality of this collection, with works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Piet Mondrian and some 100 drawings and paintings by Paul Klee, the visitor can discover a unique way with classical modern art. The postwar American art, including Pop Art, is represented by works by Jackson Pollock, Frank Stella, Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol. Moreover, the character of the collection is influenced by the works of artists such as Joseph Beuys, Gerhard Richter, Tony Cragg, Christo, Wolf Vostell, Sarah Morris, Katharina Fritsch and Imi Knoebel.
In the spring of 2002 as a second location (K21) the Ständehaus opened the Kaiserteich, formerly the seat of the state parliament. Here are seen especially halls with workshops and installations of individual artists.
The Schmela-Haus in Düsseldorf's Old Town, Old Town, serving since 2009 as a platform for experiments and lectures. This house was by the Dutch architect Aldo van Eyck (1918-1999) commissioned by the gallery owner Alfred Schmela and was the first building designed as an art gallery in the Federal Republic. In Schmela-Haus, officially now a protected monument, found since early 2011 again exhibitions.
The three locations of the Kunstsammlung together comprise over 10,000 square meters of exhibition space. Accompanying programs and special projects, the educational department unlocks the public art collection for visitors of all ages. Therefore has several workshops, a media workshop and exhibition space integrated into the "laboratory" is available.
