Kunstmuseum Gelsenkirchen

Current exhibitions

About the museum

Gelsenkirchen began collecting art, mainly prints and drawings, as early as the 1920s, but for a long time had neither permanent exhibition rooms nor specialist staff. During the Nazi era, works owned by the city were confiscated; through war and confiscation, around 200 works were lost, including paintings by Corinth, Pechstein and Rohlfs.

With art historian Bernd Lasch, appointed as the city's art curator in 1950, the systematic development of the Städtisches Museum began, focusing on classical modernism. After an interim period in the local history museum, the collection moved into the Villa Päppinghaus in Buer. Under Lasch's successor Rainer Kabel, with a tighter budget, acquisitions shifted to contemporary art – the origin of the kinetic art collection, which today has more than 80 works and, according to the museum, is the largest municipal collection of its kind in Germany. Admission has been free since 1962.

As space ran out, a new building designed by the architect Wittig opened in 1984, connected to the villa by a glass bridge. In 2008, the museum was renamed Kunstmuseum Gelsenkirchen. The collection includes paintings by Liebermann, Kirchner, Modersohn-Becker, Magritte, Richter and Warhol, constructive-concrete art and more than 3,000 works on paper from Dürer and Rembrandt to Expressionism. Since December 2022, Julia Höner has directed the museum, which is part of the RuhrKunstMuseen network.

Highlights

• Kinetic art collection with more than 80 works, including by Mack, Piene and Uecker
• Paintings by Corinth, Kirchner, Magritte, Richter and Warhol
• Collection of more than 3,000 works on paper from Dürer to Picasso
• Villa Päppinghaus and 1984 new building, linked by a glass bridge
• Free admission since 1962

Founded

1950

Operated by

Stadt Gelsenkirchen

Director

Julia Höner

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission since 1962. Public guided tours free; booked group tour (up to 20 people) €50, €75 from October 1, 2026.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

According to the museum, accessible. Tours in sign language and programs for people with dementia.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

Creative workshops during the summer holidays, daycare programs, and children's birthday parties for up to 10 children aged 5 and up (2 hours); child-friendly online videos "Schau mal Kunst." Admission is generally free.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit