The Kunsthalle Bielefeld is a contemporary art museum with a focus on international artists from the 20th and 21st centuries. Find exhibits dedicated to paintings and sculptures in addition to a superb sculpture garden. Get insight into the worldwide modern art movement as you wander between the bright and spacious galleries of the Kunsthalle Bielefeld.
Conceived by the American architect Philip Johnson, the museum’s building is itself a work of art. Spend a moment appreciating the cube-shaped design built using red sandstone. Inside are three floors and two basement levels. The building is one of several city landmarks included on the Museum & Architektur cultural route.
A major highlight of the permanent exhibition is the collection of 20th century pieces. Max Beckmann, Pablo Picasso, Sonia Delaunay and Robert Delaunay are some of the acclaimed featured artists. See works by László Moholy-Nagy and Oskar Schlemmer, who were notable modernist artists associated with the Bauhaus movement. Temporary exhibitions change throughout the year and provide a platform for predominately national artists to showcase their talents.
Be sure to stroll around the sculpture garden to see creations by Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore and Olafur Eliasson, among others. The garden received a makeover for the museum’s 40th anniversary and it keeps to the original plans of Philip Johnson.
The museum is less than a 10-minute walk from Bielefeld’s Old Market Square. Streetcars stop at Adenauerplatz, which is just south of the museum. Sparrenberg Castle, a 13th-century stronghold erected by the Counts of Ravensberg, is also only a short walk away.
Kunsthalle Bielefeld is open from Tuesday to Sunday and there are extended visiting hours on Wednesday. There is an admission fee, with discounted family tickets available. Guided tours of the exhibitions are available for a fee and with prior reservation. Visit the museum’s official website for more information.