Art association in the late-19th-century villa of the painter couple Wessel in Iserlohn: changing exhibitions from classical modernism to the present, free admission.
September 26, 2026 – November 15, 2026
Six finalists of the Märkisches Stipendium für Bildhauerei (sculpture fellowship) show small-format works in ceramics, wood, and mixed materials.
November 28, 2026 – January 31, 2027
Retrospective of the sculptor, who died in 2022, with works in wood and Corten steel that revolve around basic forms such as the vessel, the house, and the sphere.
The villa on Gartenstraße was built in 1891 for Kommerzienrat (commercial councilor) Otto Auer, co-owner of the Iserlohn company Kissing & Möllmann, to plans by architect Otto Leppin. Its striking features are the high terrace on a stone base with a balustrade and the portal in the Westphalian Baroque style.
From 1955 to 1980, the painters Wilhelm Wessel (1904–1971) and Irmgart Wessel-Zumloh (1907–1980) lived and worked here. After the city of Iserlohn took over the house, the association Wilhelm Wessel / Irmgart Wessel-Zumloh e. V. was founded on September 9, 1990, to study and catalog the couple's artistic estate; since 1991 it has held exhibitions on the first floor of the villa.
The program ranges from classical modernism to current positions, with a particular focus on art of the early postwar period and the Wessels' circle of artists, such as Emil Schumacher and Fritz Winter. Well over a hundred exhibitions have been held to date. The association maintains catalogues raisonnés of both artists, publishes books, and awards the Iserlohner Kunstpreis (Iserlohn Art Prize) for painting and sculpture.
Admission is free.
| Adults | free |
|---|
Free admission.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
| Good to know | Openings are held on Fridays at 19:00, the evening before each exhibition opens. |
|---|
All 6 museums in Iserlohn All museums in North Rhine-Westphalia
Cookies help you use this website. We only load the map and statistics with your consent.