Staatsgalerie Stuttgart

Why go

The modern-art collection gives a strong reason to go inside, with artists including Schlemmer, Matisse, Picasso and Beuys. The architecture supplies another thread: James Stirling’s extension puts stone, bright metalwork and curved forms beside the older gallery. Treat the old and new buildings as parts of one museum experience.

What to look for

• Stirling’s extension contrasts travertine and sandstone with green steel.
• Pink and blue handrails bring bright colour to the architecture.
• Classical Modernist holdings include Schlemmer, Matisse, Picasso and Beuys.

The full story

The Staatsgalerie opened in 1843 in a classical building that also housed the royal art school. Its later history includes extension, wartime destruction and post-war rebuilding. The most striking architectural change came in 1984, when the Neue Staatsgalerie opened. Designed by James Stirling, Michael Wilford and Associates, the extension sets warm stone against industrial materials and vivid colour. Its circular open-air centre and curving circulation make the building itself part of the attraction. Looking at the forms and materials helps explain the playful character often associated with postmodern architecture without requiring specialist vocabulary. The old and new names describe connected parts of the same institution. Comparing them reveals changing ideas about what an art museum should look like, while the collections provide the reason to move beyond the exterior. Neither building needs to be treated as a second, separate museum.

Useful to know

• Plan one museum visit for the old and new gallery buildings.
• Compare the façades before entering; check separate access conditions for outdoor paths and the sculpture court.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.