Archive
Kunst Hand Werk Brücke. The Applied Arts of the Brücke Artists
21. June 2026
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Bett für Erna Schilling, 1919, Arven- und Lärchenholz, bearbeitet und geschnitzt, Kirchner-Museum Davos
Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, Hochrechteckiger Holzkasten mit farbig gefasstem Relief, 1910/11, Fichte, mit eingeschnittenem Ornament und geschnitzte Flächen, farbig gefasst, Brücke-Museum, Karl und Emy Schmidt-Rottluff Stiftung © VG Bild-Kunst 2026
Eriche Heckel, Brosche mit Pfauenmotiv, 1911, Silberblech, getrieben und ziseliert, Brücke-Museum © VG Bild-Kunst 2026
Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, Gliederhalskette, 1920er-Jahre, Silberblech, gesägt, gehämmert, punziert, Plättchen verbunden mit Achterösen, Brücke-Museum, Karl und Emy Schmidt-Rottluff Stiftung © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2026
Lise Gujer, Zwei Tänzerinnen, 1924, Wolle, Leinwandbindung, Wirkerei mit doppelter Verschlingung, Brücke-Museum © Nachlass Gujer
Erna Schilling, Supraporte, 1914/15, Stickerei in Wollfäden auf Leinen, Brücke-Museum
From the bed that Ernst Ludwig Kirchner skillfully carved, to a cushion that Karl Schmidt-Rottluff sewed with abstract shapes, to a peacock embossed into silver sheet metal on a brooch by Erich Heckel – the creative drive of the Brücke artists knew no bounds. In addition to painting, drawing and printmaking, they also created everyday objects throughout their lives. The characteristic style of the Brücke was also evident in their handicrafts: fast, direct and with a desire to experiment.
The Brücke-Museum is now dedicating a comprehensive exhibition to this virtually unknown area of the artistic work of the Brücke artists for the first time: on display are over 170 works, based on the Brücke-Museum’s large collection and supplemented by numerous outstanding loans. The presentation approaches the theme through the materials used – wood, metal and textiles – and focuses on the manufacturing processes and contexts in which the works were created. The exhibition designs by Andrea Faraguna, Jerszy Seymour and Kasia Fudakowski, together with Santiago da Silva, open up new dialogues with the applied art of the Brücke.
Accompanying the exhibition are a comprehensive catalogue and two limited-edition Brücke editions: a necklace by jewellery designer Elisabeth Schotte and a bag designed by Kasia Fudakowski and Santiago da Silva are available exclusively in the museum shop.
Kunst Hand Werk Brücke, installation view, Brücke-Museum, 2026, photo: Nick Ash.
Kunst Hand Werk Brücke, installation view, Brücke-Museum, 2026, photo: Nick Ash.
Kunst Hand Werk Brücke, installation view, Brücke-Museum, 2026, photo: Nick Ash.
Kunst Hand Werk Brücke, installation view, Brücke-Museum, 2026, photo: Nick Ash.
Kunst Hand Werk Brücke, installation view, Brücke Museum, 2026, photo: Nick Ash.
Kunst Hand Werk Brücke, installation view, Brücke-Museum, 2026, photo: Nick Ash.
The exhibition will then travel to the Kunstmuseen Krefeld, where it will be on display from 4 October 2026 to 7 March 2027. It is made possible by the Capital Cultural Fund, the Ferdinand Möller Foundation and the Cultural Foundation of the German Federal States.
Artists
Programme
- Opening: The Applied Arts of the Brücke Artists5 Mar
- Public Tour8 Mar
- 8 Mar
- Public Tour15 Mar
- Public Tour in English 15 Mar
- On-Site Event: Invitation to the textile workshop and weaving mill LebensWerkGemeinschaft19 Mar
- In Dialogue - Metal 21 Mar
- Public Tour in German Sign Language 21 Mar
- Public Tour22 Mar
- Public Tour in English 22 Mar
- Stretching Sessions: Drawing course 28 Mar
- Public Tour29 Mar
- Transforming Inventing Drawing30 Mar – 2 Apr
- Public Tour5 Apr
- Public Tour in English 5 Apr
- Family insights11 Apr
- Public Tour12 Apr
- In Dialogue - Textile18 Apr
- 18 Apr
- Public Tour19 Apr
- Public Tour in English 19 Apr
- Against the Grain. Power-critical Perspectives20 Apr
- Innocent things? A project by the Werkbund Archive – Museum of Things20 Apr
- On-Site Event: Invitation to the LebensWerkGemeinschaft carpentry workshop23 Apr
- 25 Apr
- Public Tour in German Sign Language 25 Apr
- Public Tour26 Apr
- From old to new!26 Apr
- Public Tour3 May
- Public Tour in English 3 May
- Free weaving in space3 May
- Cancelled: On-Site Event: Invitation to the LebensWerkGemeinschaft carpentry workshop7 May
- Stretching Sessions: Drawing course 9 May
- Public Tour10 May
- Public Tour in English 10 May
- In Dialogue - Wood10 May
- Flat wax: Jewellery design workshop16 May
- Public Tour17 May
- Working with wood: Wood workshop 17 May
- Open Printing Workshop: Woodcut 23 May
- Public Tour24 May
- Public Tour in English 24 May
- Open exchange: Teaching and learning with materials30 May
- ¡ACTION! 31 May
- Contemporary Displays and Applied Arts of the Brücke Movement4 Jun
- Public Tour7 Jun
- Public Tour in English 7 Jun
- 7 Jun
- On-Site Event: Invitation to the textile workshop and weaving mill LebensWerkGemeinschaft11 Jun
- What Weaves Itself In13 Jun
- Public Tour in English 14 Jun
- Public Tour14 Jun
- Artist Talk: Decolonial Perspectives on Textiles14 Jun
- Open Printing Workshop: Woodcut 20 Jun
- Public Tour21 Jun
- Public Tour in English 21 Jun
- Co-Crafting-Club21 Jun
- Artist Talk with Lizza May David26 Sep
Publications
Kunst Hand Werk Brücke. Applied Arts of the Brücke Artists
Catalogue
Edited by: Lisa Marei Schmidt and Aya Soika
Texts: Valentina Bay, Lucie Blind, Daniela Bystron, Luisa Fricker, Ximena Gutiérrez Toro, Henrike Haug, Natascha Hellwag, Ann-Kathrin Hörrlein, Valentin Kammel, Lisa Reichmann, Anika Reineke, Christiane Remm, Lisa Marei Schmidt, Elisabeth Schotte and Aya Soika
Hirmer Verlag
320 pages
German / English
ISBN: 978-3-7774-4529-8
50 €
Staff
Lisa Marei Schmidt, Concept
Lisa Marei Schmidt with Daniela Bystron, Christiane Remm, Anika Reineke and Aya Soika, Curators
Valentina Bay, Project Management and Assistant Curator
Elisabeth Schotte, Valentin Kammel and Lisa Reichmann, Experts
Andrea Faraguna, Kasia Fudakowski und Santiado da Silva, Jerszy Seymour, Exhibition Architecture
Daniela Bystron and Ximena Gutiérrez Toro, Outreach and Public Programme
Karen Michelsen Castañón, Dalila Daut, Dagmawit Abebaw Hunz, Lotte Leerschool. Sieglinde Lemcke, Thesea Rigou und Tanja-Bianca Schmidt, Art Education