November 13, 2026 – February 7, 2027
Sturm schwillt an | Shan Fan und Meng Huang
Installation and painting by Shan Fan and Meng Huang, which take wind and water as their starting point and ask what happens when long-held certainties begin to waver.
PARABEL. Zentrum für Kunst in Hamburg
Exhibition house in the former Nikodemus Church in Hamburg-Ohlsdorf, showing and researching Hamburg art of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Have only individual sections read aloud
Opening hoursAdmission €6 Partially accessible
Current exhibitions
July 10, 2026 – November 1, 2026
„Eine Lust, die tragisch wirkt …“ – Rolf Nesch und Hamburg
The exhibition presents Hamburg as a source of inspiration and a field of experimentation for Rolf Nesch, focusing on his works from the late 1920s with harbour, bridge and St. Pauli motifs.
About the museum
PARABEL goes back to the Hamburg art historian Maike Bruhns, who wanted to give the regional art of the Hanseatic city a place of its own. From the 1980s on she assembled a large collection, which was transferred into a foundation in 2022. It now comprises more than 3,500 works from World War I to the present, including many works by persecuted, exiled and long-forgotten artists, as well as works of the Hamburgische Secession.
The venue is the former Nikodemus Church in Ohlsdorf. The ensemble of parish hall, church and daycare center was built in the 1950s to plans by Henry Schlote; the parabola-shaped nave gave the museum its name. After the listed church was deconsecrated in 2022, it was converted into an exhibition space, with a large main hall and a narrower gallery as presentation levels.
In May 2025 a first presentation of recent acquisitions took place; the official opening followed at the end of June 2025. Beyond exhibitions, the house is also meant to serve research: a specialist library and a research center on modern art in Hamburg are being set up in the parish hall.
Highlights
- Former 1950s Nikodemus Church with parabola-shaped nave
- Foundation collection of more than 3,500 works of Hamburg art
- Focus on the Hamburgische Secession, exile art, and persecuted and forgotten artists
- Guided tours included in admission
- Free admission for children, young people and students
- Founded
- 2025
- Operated by
- PARABEL. Zentrum für Kunst in Hamburg gGmbH
- Director
- Dr. Maike Bruhns (wissenschaftliche Leitung)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Retirees |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 18 · Children and young people up to 18 enter free. |
| Seniors | €4Retirees |
| Students & apprentices | freeStudents enter free. |
Free admission also for members of the friends' and support association. Following the principle “Pay what you can,” admission can be paid according to your means. Guided tours are included in the admission price. Cash and card payments accepted.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: not available
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Due to the historic building fabric, access is only partly barrier-free: the exhibition rooms are reachable even with limited mobility, but the toilets can only be reached by stairs.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 18 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Family tours and a children's workshop are offered on special occasions, such as the #seeforfree action day. Children and young people up to 18 pay no admission.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Feuerbergstraße (Bus 172)
Bus line 172 to the Feuerbergstraße stop, directly in front of the house. The Ohlsdorf S-Bahn station (S1, S11) and U1 are about 15 minutes' walk away.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
Along Fuhlsbüttler Straße there are only limited public parking spaces.
Arrival by bus, train or bicycle is recommended.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Dates and contents of guided tours are available at the ticket desk and in the online calendar on the website. |
