The Collection

The collection is the heart and the soul of our museum.

The basic idea underpinning this presentation of the museum’s collection is restoring the chronological sequence of works, which will allow visitors to get to know the most important movements and styles of art history from the 19th century to the present in the original. In addition to this, we are putting the focus on artists who have a special relationship with Linz and the LENTOS, such as VALIE EXPORT and Herbert Bayer. Art history is anything but static: the Canon is being rewritten all the time, a process that frequently leads to reassessments and rediscoveries. In this way, the museum serves as a tool for experiencing art history and for understanding it and paves the way for special exhibitions primarily dedicated to the art of our times. The re-arrangement of the collection was effected step by step in 2018 by the director of the museum, Hemma Schmutz, in close collaboration with her team.

The emphasis in the individual rooms of the collection is on 19th century portrait and landscape painting, Secessionism, Expressionism, New Objectivity, Informalism, Actionism and contemporary positions.

The exhibition features works by such artists as Herbert Bayer, VALIE EXPORT, Gustav Klimt, Oskar Kokoschka, Maria Lassnig, Gabriele Münter, Egon Schiele, Andy Warhol and Heimo Zobernig.