Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation
Hauptbereich
New National Gallery
The Neue Nationalgalerie was opened in 1968 and is the last work completed by the world-renowned architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The architect's long-term preoccupation with creating fluid, open space culminated in the design of the glazed upper pavilion of the gallery. Mies van der Rohe died just shortly after the building opened: thus the Neue Nationalgalerie with its steel roof and minimalist form is not only an icon of modern architecture but also stands as a testament to one of the most visionary architects of the 20th century. At the time of construction, the museum was situated close to the border of West Berlin and was an essential component of architect Hans Scharoun's plans to establish a 'Kulturforum'-a centre for art and culture-in this area. After German reunification and the reconstruction of Potsdamer Platz, the Neue Nationalgalerie now finds itself in a vibrant district in the centre of the city.
The Neue Nationalgalerie hosts rotating exhibitions focussing on 20th-century art. The gallery's large collection includes important works by numerous artists from Europe and North America, such as Ferdinand Hodler, Edvard Munch, Pablo Picasso, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Max Beckmann, Otto Dix, Paul Klee, Max Ernst, Salvador Dalí, Francis Bacon, Ernst Wilhelm Nay, Werner Tübke, Gerhard Richter and Andy Warhol. Among the best-known works are 'Potsdamer Platz' by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, 'The Skat Players' by Otto Dix and 'Who's afraid of Red, Yellow and Blue IV' by Barnett Newman.
The current exhibition is dedicated to art from the post-war era, showcasing works from between 1945 and 1968. The gallery's collection of modern art was on exhibit up to the end of 2012 and is currently no longer on display.
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