modern art in germany
june 2027
dr nick gordon
*** Preliminary Itinerary ***
Enjoy the rare opportunity to enjoy two significant art fairs simultaneously, at dOCUMENTA in Kassel and Münster’s Sculpture Project, and explore art in Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and Cologne
OVERVIEW
North-western Germany is a treasure trove of modern and contemporary art, with exceptional public and private collections amassed in Dusseldorf, Frankfurt and Cologne. Additionally, the region is host to two of the world’s leading art events, which unveil new directions and set trends in contemporary art: dOCUMENTA in Kassel, held every 5 years, and Münster Skulptur Projekte, held every 10 years. These two events align in 2027 – and won’t again until 2037!
We begin the tour in Dusseldorf, the epicentre of postwar German art, where the careers of Joseph Beuys, Anselm Kiefer, Katharina Fritsch, Gerhard Richter, Andreas Gursky and a host of others were made. Dusseldorf’s many museums and galleries offer a revolving feast of exhibitions, celebrating the achievements of postwar art and inviting us to discover emerging talent. After exploring a curated selection of the art on offer, including a visit to the new Lange Foundation and a day trip to Cologne, we travel to Münster, where we discover the wonders of Skulptur Projekte, including past masterpieces by Donald Judd, Ilya Kabakov, and Rosemarie Trockel installed throughout the city, and numerous new works selected for the festival.
We then continue to Kassel, where we unpack the feast of art that is dOCUMENTA, from the brilliantly conceptual to the rampantly satirical. Continuing to Frankfurt, Europe’s financial centre, we complete our journey with visits to the Städel, the dynamically curated Museum of Applied Arts, and a selection of modern and contemporary exhibitions from Frankfurt’s leading collections.
TOUR LEADER
Dr Nick Gordon is a director of Limelight Arts Travel and a well-known cultural tour leader, with twenty years’ experience leading tours to Western Europe, Asia and Australasia. Nick has a University Medal and PhD in History from the University of Sydney and taught history, architectural history and cultural studies at the University of Sydney, Western Sydney University, and UNSW. Since 2006, he has designed and led tours to Italy, France, Germany, the Low Countries, Scandinavia, Japan and China, and is particularly known for his design of successful tours to contemporary art fairs.
“Nick was an exceptional guide, very knowledgeable in terms of the Setouchi Triennale and history of Japan” – Stephen N., Japan’s Art Islands & the Setouchi Triennale, 2025
Highlights
Experience dOCUMENTA in Kassel, one of the world’s most cutting-edge and international visual art festivals, only held every 5 years
Explore Münster’s Sculpture Project, an avant-garde sculpture festival that takes place in this historic town every 10 years
Enjoy Frankfurt’s superb museums and galleries, from the Städel’s Old Masters to the dynamic Museum of Applied Arts
Get to know Dusseldorf, the epicentre of postwar German art, and exceptional galleries like the Lange Foundation and K20/K21
Discover Cologne, famous for its cathedral and excellent Germano-Roman Museum, and the UNESCO-listed Zollverein Industrial Complex, now transformed into an art space
Questions?
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