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Reopening of the Neue Nationalgalerie as of 22 August 2021

18.08.2021
Nationalgalerie

The Neue Nationalgalerie, a world-renowned architectural icon designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, is celebrating its reopening after six years of renovations with exhibitions closely tied to the building. One of these, conceived especially for the legendary glass hall, features works by sculptor Alexander Calder, a contemporary of Mies. Also aligned with the building’s visionary architecture is the solo exhibition of film and media artist Rosa Barba. On the spacious lower level, the Nationalgalerie presents numerous key works in the collection under the title The Art of Society, 1900–1945. In addition, a separate exhibition area focuses on the building’s history and the architect Mies van der Rohe.

The museum will reopen to visitors on 22 August 2021. Special opening hours from 10 am to 8 pm are in effect for the exhibitions until 29 August. Normally closed, the venue will also be open on Monday, 23 August 2021.

The Neue Nationalgalerie

The Neue Nationalgalerie, built by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe between 1965 and 1968 as his last independent work, is considered a crowning legacy of a visionary 20th century architect. Accommodating the Nationalgalerie’s multifaceted collection of 20th century art, the Neue Nationalgalerie offers unique conditions for querying the freedoms and limitations of Western Modernism. The reopening is intended to mark a transition by which the museum increasingly becomes a place for critical reflection on 20th century art, thus programmatically complementing the Nationalgalerie’s two other main venues, the Alte Nationalgalerie on the Museumsinsel and Hamburger Bahnhof – Museum der Gegenwart – Berlin, which are dedicated to 19th century and contemporary art, respectively.

The Art Returns

After more than 3,000 visitors were able to tour the renovated, still empty building during the “Open House Days” in June, despite pandemic restrictions, the artworks are now also returning with the exhibitions The Art of Society, 1900–1945: The Nationalgalerie Collection, Alexander Calder: Minimal/Maximal and Rosa Barba. In a Perpetual Now. A separate exhibition area is devoted to the building’s history and its architect. At the same time, numerous sculptures from the collection have also been reinstalled outdoors, including major works by Henry Moore, George Rickey, Eduardo Chillida and Robert Indiana. Also on view are rediscovered or restored works, such as a fountain sculpture by David Black and a figure by Marina Núñez del Prado.

Jorge Pardo offers a contemporary intervention with his artistic redesign of the café based on motifs by Anni Albers and incorporating Mexican-Spanish forms. Other contemporary viewpoints can be seen in a small exhibition on the history of the building shown on the lower level, including works by Isa Genzken, Veronika Kellndorfer and Michael Wesely.

Architecture: The Building and Its Renovation

The building was planned and constructed between 1965 and 1968 by the former Bauhaus director Mies van der Rohe. With the spacious, transparent glass hall and the fluid floor plan on the level showing the collection, the eminent architect masterfully consummated his lifetime search for open space. In this sense, the Neue Nationalgalerie is considered Mies’ final legacy and an icon of Western Modernism. Two book publications and a web app, created to coincide with the building’s reopening, provide extensive information about the history of its construction and renovation.

Volkswagen ART4All

As part of the recently extended partnership (launched 2012), the Nationalgalerie and Volkswagen are continuing their jointly developed format Volkswagen ART4ALL and expanding the programme to include another museum. Starting in November 2021, the Neue Nationalgalerie and Hamburger Bahnhof – Museum für Gegenwart – Berlin will offer free admission once a month (on Thursdays from 4 to 8 pm) with an accompanying artistic programme, workshops and guided tours. This programme is intended to make it possible and easier for a wider audience to enjoy an enriching experience of art and culture.

In addition, Euroboden, architectural partner of the Neue Nationalgalerie, will facilitate special and longer-term architectural programmes starting in fall 2021.

Gaggenau Hausgeräte GmbH sponsored the artistic redesign of the museum café.

Opening Hours, Bookstore and Café

In the first week following its reopening on 22 August 2021 (through Sunday 29 August 2021), the Neue Nationalgalerie is offering special opening hours from 10 am to 8 pm daily, inclusive Monday, 23 August.

The bookstore and the café can be accessed parallel to the museum’s opening hours.

Please refer to the current information for visitors during the coronavirus pandemic to plan your visit.