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18 New Acquisitions and Two Donations for the Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart

15.01.2026
Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart

Large-scale installations by Mona Hatoum or Selma Selman, a sound installation by Emeka Ogboh, a series of works by Eva&Adele, or a film work by Tina Bara, as well as many other artworks by 20 artists, have been acquired for Hamburger Bahnhof. These works are currently on display in the collection presentation Nationalgalerie. A Collection for the 21st Century on art in Berlin since the fall of the Wall in 1989, which can be seen until 29 March 2026. Since 2022, the collection has thus grown by works from a total of 70 artists.

The collection of the National Gallery of Contemporary Art is growing: Tina Bara, Isaac Chong Wai, Jason Dodge, Haris Epaminonda, Ayşe Erkmen, Eva&Adele, Annette Frick, Petrit Halilaj and Alvaro Urbano, Flaka Haliti, Mona Hatoum, Sabine Hermann, Barbara Klemm, Klara Lidén, Marwan, Emeka Ogboh, Manfred Paul, Selma Selman, Wolfgang Tillmans, Carrie Mae Weems are represented with works of contemporary art at Hamburger Bahnhof, which is responsible for contemporary art within the Nationalgalerie collection. The works were acquired primarily through the museum’s own funds and additionally through the generous support of the Hamburger Bahnhof International Companions e. V. and the Freunde der Nationalgalerie. The work by Marwan was donated from the estate. The work complex “CUM Polaroids” by Eva&Adele was gifted to the museum by the legendary Berlin artist duo before Eva’s death.

The exhibition Nationalgalerie. A Collection for the 21st Century presents a panorama of Berlin’s art scene and the city from the threshold of the Wall’s opening to the present day, on view until 29 March 2026. The new presentation of the collection opened in 2023 with the first editions of the free “Open House” and the DJ series “Berlin Beats” in the museum garden. The next collection presentation will open on 12 June 2026 as part of the museum’s 30th anniversary, together with the fourth edition of the open-house days and Berlin Beats.

Overall, Hamburger Bahnhof has expanded its collection since 2022 with positions by around 70 artists. From the collection presentation Museum in Motion in the Rieckhallen, on view until 26 July 2026, works by Anne Imhof and Elmgreen & Dragset have entered the museum’s collection. From the site-specific Endless Exhibition, new productions by Judith Hopf, Claudia Wieser, Susan Philipsz have been added since 2023, as well as a donation by Christian Boltanski to the museum last year.

30 Years of Hamburger Bahnhof

In 2026, Hamburger Bahnhof celebrates its 30th anniversary with a programme spanning from the site’s history into the future: eight special exhibitions, a new collection presentation, as well as performances and concerts extending the museum far into the urban space. The highlight is the anniversary weekend from 13 until 15 November, featuring an international conference on the future of contemporary collection museums, and the building will remain open continuously for 30 hours.