Kunsthaus Bregenz

The Austrian lakeside town of Bregenz is best known for its high-profile festival, but it also has plenty to offer outside the opera season. The Kunsthaus Bregenz, or KUB for short, is one of the most important exhibition venues for contemporary art in Europe and enjoys an excellent international reputation. So if you are interested in contemporary painting and photography, a visit to this museum is definitely recommended. The best way to get to Bregenz is by bike along the lake shore. This way, you can enjoy the beauty of the region on the way and save yourself the hassle of finding a parking space. Alternatively, the train or scheduled boats will take you to Bregenz quickly and comfortably.

Glass-clad cube near the lake shore

The KUB itself is an architectural highlight: constructed from glass panels, steel and stone, the building absorbs the light from the sky and Lake Constance, changing colour depending on the time of day, viewing angle and weather conditions. At night, artificial light shines out from inside through the strip lighting. The museum, which opened in 1997, was designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor.

Contemporary works with local relevance

The KUB exhibition space extends over the ground floor and three upper floors. International artists exhibit contemporary works here, most of which are created specifically for the museum and address current developments in art and society. These may include photographs that address aspects of the digital age, or a puppet theatre depicting the Middle East conflict. Through experimental and unconventional formats, the artworks are intended to establish a dialogue with the city, its history and its people. The premises therefore serve as much for the admiration of contemporary art as they do for encounters and discussion.

A glimpse into the world of Austrian art

Even before the museum building opened, founding director Edelbert Köb began compiling a collection of contemporary art from Austria. Over the years, this collection has grown thanks to special donations and steadily acquired new exhibits, which are now presented in the KUB Collection Showcase. One focus is on paintings and sculptures, including works by Austrian artists such as Herbert Brandl, Erwin Bohatsch and Maria Lassnig.

The second focus of the museum’s own collection is on works at the interface between fine art and architecture. In the form of models, drawings or plans, for example, projects by architects who are still alive are made accessible to the public in various exhibition contexts.