Let’s be honest: exhibitions in Berlin are a dime a dozen! In the flood of museums, galleries and exhibition spaces in Berlin’s cultural landscape, however, some excellent exhibitions unfortunately remain under the radar. We have therefore picked out the most interesting picks for you for the first quarter of 2024!
A little tip by the way: the majority of Berlin’s museums offer free visits on the first Sunday of every month. You can find out which museums are taking part in Museum Sunday here.
Andy Warhol: Velvet Rage and Beauty
In this exhibition you can discover the works of one of the most famous artists of the 20th century. A central theme in his art is the search for an ideal of beauty, especially male beauty, which runs through his work from the 1940s until his death in the 1980s. The Nationalgalerie places this search at the center of the exhibition and shows over 300 works, including paintings, prints, photographs and films. The exhibition “Andy Warhol: Velvet Rage and Beauty” refers to the book “The Velvet Rage” and deals with the artist’s exploration of the body, gender and identity. His works of painting, sculpture, installation and video relate his depiction of train stations during the “Great Migration” to the historical use of the exhibition building as a train station between Berlin and Hamburg.
Venue: Neue Nationalgalerie, Mitte | June 09 to October 06, 2024
The Art of the Brick
“The Art of the Brick” is the world’s most famous LEGO® art exhibition and has already been celebrated in numerous cities. CNN has described it as one of the “must-see exhibitions”, and now it can finally be experienced in Berlin! The fascinating collection presents the works of artist Nathan Sawaya, created with millions of LEGO® bricks.
Location: CANK, Karl-Marx-Straße 95, Neukölln | More info and tickets
Rediscover Impressionism
Impressionism is often associated with colorful landscapes, but this art form has much more to offer! The exhibition “Monet and the Impressionist City” at the Alte Nationalgalerie is dedicated to precisely these different facets. A particular highlight are three works by Claude Monet, which capture the lively hustle and bustle of 19th century Paris city center. You can also discover works by other Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists who present fresh perspectives on urban themes.
Location: Alte Nationalgalerie, Mitte | September 27 to January 26, 2025 | More information
Experience the mysteries of Pharaoh Tutankhamun
The immersive exhibition “Tutankhamun” offers an extraordinary experience that uses state-of-the-art technology to immerse you in the fascinating world of Ancient Egypt. You can discover impressive treasures and wonders and experience the life of the legendary pharaoh Tutankhamun up close!
Location: New Media Art Center, Revaler Straße 99, Friedrichshain | More info
Mark Bradford: Keep Walking
Experience Mark Bradford’s first solo exhibition in Germany, presented in the newly opened Rieckhallen. This exhibition explores significant themes such as race, gender and economic inequality. Bradford’s impressive compositions of found materials from Los Angeles unfold an artful vision and create a fascinating visual narrative. His works in painting, sculpture, installation and video reflect in particular the historical use of the exhibition building as a train station between Berlin and Hamburg.
Hamburger Bahnhof – Museum für Gegenwart, Mitte | September 06 to May 18, 2025
Sabine Weiss: A Photographer’s Life
This exhibition in Berlin pays tribute to the work of Swiss photographer Sabine Weiss. Her insatiable curiosity and her travels are reflected in original prints, archive documents and films. A key figure in 20th century French humanist photography, Weiss devoted herself to reportage, fashion and personal projects over seven decades. Curated by Virginie Chardin, the exhibition is organized by f³ – freiraum für fotografie and produced by Sabine Weiss Studio and Photo Elysée.
f³ – freiraum für fotografie, Kreuzberg | September 06 to November 24, 2024
Rirkrit Tiravanija at the Gropius Bau
A new highlight at the Gropius Bau is the exhibition by Rirkrit Tiravanija, who surprises his audience with interactive works of art. Get involved in installations at the weekend, play a game of ping-pong or enjoy the togetherness in a typical Berlin artistic atmosphere.
Gropius Bau, Mitte | Date: September 12 – January 12, 2025 | More info
Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley: The Soul Station
Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley’s first solo exhibition in Germany can be seen at Berghain and offers a fascinating art experience. In addition to her new work “You Can’t Hide Anything”, which is presented in two episodes, the exhibition also provides a comprehensive overview of her video games from the last five years. The second episode will celebrate its premiere on September 12 during Berlin Art Week. Visitors will be immersed in a virtual world that tells of a radical upheaval and a triumphant revolution and invites them to question their own ethical and moral decision-making processes.
Halle am Wriezener Bahnhof, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg | July 12 to October 13, 2024
Torn Test: Art between Politics and Society
An exhibition at the Neue Nationalgalerie Berlin documents an era of discord somewhere between the post-war mood, the Cold War, social upheaval and the fall of the Berlin Wall. You can expect contributions from the Federal Republic of Germany, the GDR, Western Europe, the USA and the former socialist states.
Neue Nationalgalerie, Mitte | until September 28, 2025
Unique insights at KÖRPERWELTEN
With over 55 million visitors worldwide, KÖRPERWELTEN is one of the most successful global exhibitions. The exhibition has been touring the globe since 1995 and has now visited over 160 cities in Europe, America, Asia, Oceania and South Africa. The exhibition also has a permanent home in Berlin – right in the TV tower! It provides an insight into the anatomy of humans and animals – illustrated with real specimens.
Museum “Facets of Life”, Mitte | Permanent exhibition