Kurt Mühlenhaupt Museum

Current exhibitions

About the museum

Kurt Mühlenhaupt (1921–2006) was a painter, printmaker, sculptor, and author. He depicted above all the world of the "little people" – Kreuzberg streets, backyards, and pubs, children and outsiders – and is regarded as a chronicler of West Berlin and the Kreuzberg art scene. In addition to paintings and sculptures, he left behind children's books and a twelve-volume autobiography.

In 1990, he and his wife Hannelore acquired a dilapidated manor farm in Bergsdorf near Zehdenick in Brandenburg and restored it. A private museum was established there, registered as a museum from 1994 and continued by his widow after the artist's death.

In fall 2019, the museum moved to Fidicinstraße in Berlin-Kreuzberg, on the grounds of a former brewery where Mühlenhaupt himself had founded artists' courtyards. Today the Mühlenhaupt Höfe house theaters, studios, and workshops. The museum is run by the Kurt und Hannelore Mühlenhaupt Stiftung, founded in 2016, with support from a friends' association. The permanent exhibition tells his story through photos, original texts, sketches, and mementos from his life; a separate area is aimed at children. Temporary exhibitions juxtapose Mühlenhaupt's work with other artistic positions, and with printmaking workshops, city walks, and events, the museum also sees itself as a neighborhood venue in the Bergmannkiez.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition "Das Leben eines Multitalents" with photos, texts, and sketches
• Designs for the Feuerwehrbrunnen (Fire Brigade Fountain) on Mariannenplatz
• Mühlenhaupt's barrel organ and instrument collection
• Children's exhibition "Mühlenhaupts Welt der kleinen Leute" with a costume corner
• Open printmaking workshop every Sunday

Permanent exhibitions

• Das Leben eines Multitalents – The life and work of Kurt Mühlenhaupt as a painter, printmaker, sculptor, and author, told through photos, original texts, sketches, and personal mementos.
• Mühlenhaupts Welt der kleinen Leute – Exhibition area for children with large drawings to color in, Mühlenhaupt's instruments, and a dress-up corner.

Founded

1994

Operated by

Kurt und Hannelore Mühlenhaupt Stiftung

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission, including the temporary exhibition. Tickets for events can be reserved by phone, by email (karten@muehlenhaupt.de), or at the museum.

Accessibility

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

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Dedicated children's area "Mühlenhaupts Welt der kleinen Leute" (Mühlenhaupt's World of Little People) for coloring, listening to music, and dressing up (costume corner). Open printing workshop every Sunday 14:00–17:00 without registration (parents remain responsible for supervision). Children's birthday parties for ages 5 to 10 with a printing workshop (not on Sundays).

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit