When does the exhibition take place?

The exhibition opens on 10.09.2026 and runs according to the program until 11.10.2026.

What is the admission fee?

The regular admission fee is 16 Euros. Discounts and free admissions are possible according to the museum.

Is the exhibition accessible?

The Kunsthalle Mannheim is nearly barrier-free accessible according to house information.

Are there guided tours of the exhibition?

Yes, the Kunsthalle offers public guided tours and other mediation formats. For current times, refer to the museum's information.

Is photography allowed in the exhibition?

In the collection, photography without flash for private purposes is permitted. For special exhibitions and specific subjects, the house rules of the museum apply.

How do I get to Kunsthalle Mannheim?

The Kunsthalle is located at Friedrichsplatz in the center of Mannheim and is easily accessible by public transportation as well as by car.

Nouveau Réalisme unfolds in Mannheim a powerful, surprisingly modern exhibition world

Name: RADICAL. REAL. Nouveau Réalisme and the Art of the 1960s
Start: 2026-09-10T10:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-11T18:00:00+02:00
Location: Kunsthalle Mannheim

When Reality Becomes Art: Nouveau Réalisme in the Kunsthalle Mannheim

With RADICAL. REAL. Nouveau Réalisme and the Art of the 1960s, the Kunsthalle Mannheim presents a major special exhibition that sharpens the art experience of post-war modernism. The starting point is outstanding works from its own collection and an expansive view of that movement which, starting in the early 1960s, transformed the found, the everyday, and the mass into art.

The Power of the Real

Nouveau Réalisme emerged in the tension between consumer society, a media boom, and accelerated urbanity. The exhibition traces how artists worked with objects, images, and traces of reality to radically shift the boundary between life and art. The result is an exhibition that not only informs historically but becomes immediately physically experienceable.

Arman, César, Yves Klein and the Radical Language of the 1960s

The artistic focal points include major works by Arman, César, Yves Klein, Mimmo Rotella, Daniel Spoerri, Niki de Saint Phalle, and Jacques de la Villeglé. This core is supplemented by works by Alina Szapocznikow and other positions that worked on similar questions of body, identity, consumer criticism, and environmental awareness. Thus, a historically precise cartography of an era emerges in which painting, sculpture, installation, and material art opened up new spaces of expression.

Between Collection, Archive, and Global Context

The exhibition develops its narrative from the collection of the Kunsthalle Mannheim and expands it with archival documents, photographs, as well as video recordings of performances and actions. This curatorial approach makes visible how Nouveau Réalisme unfolded not just in Paris but internationally. This is precisely where the strength of the exhibition lies: It connects collection history, exhibition practice, and art historical research to create a compelling mediation format.

A Museum Experience with Educational Depth

Since its founding in 1909, the Kunsthalle Mannheim has been regarded as one of the first citizen collections of modernity. The institution remarkably combines exhibition atmosphere, architecture, and cultural education. Visitors benefit from guided tours, mediation offers, and the accessible approach to the museum. Those who engage with this exhibition experience not only the visual language of Nouveau Réalisme but also the productive tension between artwork, space, and the present.

Conclusion

RADICAL. REAL. impressively makes the explosive power of Nouveau Réalisme visible. Anyone wanting to understand how art encounters reality in new ways and why these questions remain relevant today should definitely visit this exhibition in Mannheim in person.