Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Art museum at Grabbeplatz, Düsseldorf, Germany
The Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen is the art collection of North Rhine-Westphalia, shown at three Düsseldorf venues. K20 at Grabbeplatz has a curved façade of polished black natural stone and a yellow "OFFEN" sign; K21 occupies the former state parliament at the Kaiserteich; the Schmela Haus in the Altstadt is a brick landmark by Aldo van Eyck.
The collection's origin was the 1960 purchase of 88 works by Paul Klee from Pittsburgh steel manufacturer G. David Thompson, brokered by Basel dealer Ernst Beyeler and overseen by state premier Franz Meyers. In 1961 the state founded the Stiftung Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, with Werner Schmalenbach as first director from 1962 to 1990. First housed in Jägerhof Palace, it moved to the K20 building by Dissing+Weitling, inaugurated on 14 March 1986.
The collection features works by Picasso, Matisse, and Mondrian that show how modern artists explored new directions in painting. Visitors can observe how these artistic movements changed the way we perceive color and form.
The buildings have accessible entrances with ramps and elevators for visitors with mobility needs. Guided tours happen regularly, and digital guides are available for independent exploration.
The K21 building was formerly the state parliament building and was converted into an art venue. Today it houses large contemporary installations within rooms that repurpose the historic structure in creative ways.
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