Frankfurt, Germany
The city nicknamed “Mainhattan” might be best known as a financial metropolis, but Frankfurt is fast shifting attention to its modern architecture, burgeoning fashion and design industry, and thriving cultural scene. The city is home to Germany’s largest English-language theater and some of the country’s tallest skyscrapers, and there’s plenty in Frankfurt to interest art lovers, with a cluster of prestigious art museums, new galleries springing up all around the city and a roster of unique annual festivals and events.
Frankfurt’s Museum Embankment
Art enthusiasts should make a beeline for Frankfurt’s Museum Embankment (Museumsufer), where the star attraction is the Städel Art Institute. Housing the impressive private collection of art collector Johann Friedrich Städel, the gallery’s works date from the 13th century to modern day and include notable paintings by Dürer, Elsheimer, Rembrandt and Botticelli. Next door, the Liebieghaus is home to a magnificent sculpture collection, dating from antiquity to modern times, while further along the riverfront, the Museum Giersch has an excellent collection of old masters, as well as temporary exhibitions. Also along the Museum Embankment are the Icon Museum, German Architecture Museum and Museum of Applied Art.
Modern Art in Frankfurt
For fans of modern art, the Museum of Modern Art (MMK) is the first port-of-call, located in a suitably futuristic building designed by architect Hans Hollein. There’s also the award-winning Schirn art gallery, which hosts some of the city’s best temporary art exhibitions; the Portikus art gallery, which stands on a small island in the Main River and is home to Olafur Eliasson’s acclaimed Light Lab installation; and the recently added underground gallery of the Städel Museum, which is devoted to post-1945 works. For something a little left-of-center, why not check out the Caricatura Museum of Comic Art, which boasts a huge collection of comic and satire artwork from the renowned New Frankfurt School.
Those looking to browse or buy will also be interested in the city’s many galleries, the most famous of which is Galerie Bärbel Grässlin, which displays contemporary works by renowned local and international artists. The Parisa Kind gallery in Sachsenhausen and the Anita Beckers gallery in the Gallus quarter are also known for their support of up-and-coming young artists.
Frankfurt Art Festivals
Arguably the best time for art enthusiasts to visit the city is during the annual Museum Embankment Festival (Museumsuferfest) in August, when all the city’s top museums host special events and exhibitions. This is also the time to visit Frankfurt’s legendary bank collections — the normally private art collections of the city’s top banks, including Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank and DZ Bank. There’s also the biennial Luminale light arts festival, the annual Night of Museums and the Frankfurt Studio Open Days.
- Contributed by Zoe Smith