The unspoiled nature, the turbulent Baltic Sea, the special light - for centuries, artists have found wonderful sources of inspiration in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Caspar David Friedrich and Philipp Otto Runge created their world-famous masterpieces here. The artists' colonies in Ahrenshoop, Schwaan and on the island of Hiddensee show unique works by formative artists of the region as well as contemporary works. Art halls and galleries offer changing exhibitions of nationally and internationally renowned sculptors, photographers and painters.

Exhibition at the Museum Ahrenshoop // © MV-T/Roth

Between Baltic Sea and Bodden: Artists' Colony Ahrenshoop

The artists' colony of Ahrenshoop is located on the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula. The extensive landscape between the Baltic Sea and the Bodden, the alternating cliffs and dunes and especially the unique light conditions attracted the first landscape painters to the coast at the end of the 19th century. The painter Paul Müller-Kaempff, who opened the first painting school in the village in 1894, is considered the founder of the colony. He was followed by many other artists as well as their friends and families, whereby the former fishing village simultaneously developed into a Baltic seaside resort.

Even today Ahrenshoop is a meeting place for artists and art lovers. In numerous exhibition houses and studios, the art historical development of the artists' colony can be traced from its founding to the present. These include, for example, the Ahrenshoop Art Museum, which opened in 2013, the Kunstkaten and the Künstlerhaus Lukas.

Peace and seclusion on the artists' island of Hiddensee

Hiddensee has been considered an artists' colony since the beginning of the 20th century. Far from big-city civilization, artists spend the summer months on the island or settle there completely. The foundation stone of the community was laid by the painter Oskar Kruse-Lietzenburg, whose "Lietzenburg", built in 1904, became an artists' meeting place for painters, writers and actors. After his death, the sculptor Max Kruse and his wife, the doll maker Käthe Kruse, continued this tradition. The painters Henni Lehmann and Clara Arnheim founded the Hiddensoer Künstlerinnenbund in 1919. Their studio and exhibition rooms are located in the blue barn, where their works are exhibited again today. Among the many prominent guests of the island are also the actress Asta Nielsen, painter and sculptor Käthe Kollwitz and the writer Gerhart Hauptman.

If you want to get an impression of the cultural development of Hiddensee, it is worth visiting some other galleries and exhibitions besides the blue barn. Open for guests are, for example, the Gerhart Hauptmann House, the Museum of Local History, the Henni Lehmann House and the Asta Nielsen House.

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Nature studies in Schwaan

But it was not only on the coast that artists gathered to immortalize the unique nature of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in their works. At the end of the 19th century, a colony of artists also emerged in the small farming town of Schwaan, south of Rostock. Local painters came together here to study the natural landscape around the tranquil little town and capture it in their paintings. The founder of the colony is the Schwaan-born painter Franz Bunke, who studied and later taught at the Weimar School of Painting. Rudolf Bartels, Peter Paul Draewing and Alfred Heinsohn also belonged to the core of the artist community.

Today, their works are exhibited in the Kunstmuseum Schwaan in the building of the former watermill. The house where Franz Bunke was born can also be visited. If you would like to see the original locations of the works, the artist trails are the right place to go: Three cycling and hiking trails lead past them starting from the art museum.

Galleries and art studios

Places of art and inspiration in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

280 results

  • Exterior view of the Quadrados Gallery // © Heidrun Klimmey

    Gallery Quadrados

    • Küstergang, 18209 Bad Doberan

    In the heart of downtown Bad Doberan, the gallery shows contemporary art with prints and paintings by Heidrun Klimmey herself and, in thematically changing exhibitions, works by other artists.

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  • Textile Manufaktur und Galerieim 200jährigen Fachwerkstall // © Antje Reschwamm

    KAA DESIGN Textile Manufactory and Gallery

    • Laschendorf, 17213 Malchow

    Textile manufactory and gallery in a 200-year-old, rebuilt half-timbered barn in Laschendorf near Göhren-Lebbin. Own carpet collections, cool bags from our sailmaking, individual sun sails, graphics, jewelry, ...

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  • © MV Foto e.V. Fotografin: Anke Berger

    RED REBANE GmbH | Bag Manufacturer

    • Klöresgang, 19053 Schwerin

    Rucksacks, bicycle and belt bags are made by hand in the open workshop of the red fox – the Estonian word "Rebane" means fox. "Our aim is to make products that can accompany us throughout our lives," Christian Karius explains.

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  • Gallery Dwarslöper

    • Kirchweg, 18565 Kloster

    The Dwarslöper Gallery in Kloster has been presenting island-connected artists in its premises for many years.

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  • ARQUOIA studio - exhibition and sculpture garden

    • Eichenallee, 17153 Ivenack

    More than 100, partly changing art objects inside and in the open space complete the insight into the ARQUOIA studio.

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  • Knorrige Stämme ragen in den Himmel, ihre Rinde erzählt von Jahrhunderten. Die Ivenacker Eichen gehören zu den ältesten Bäumen Deutschlands und stehen im Naturschutzgebiet bei Stavenhagen. Licht fällt durch das dichte Blätterdach und taucht den Waldboden in ein sanftes Grün – ein Ort, der Ehrfurcht weckt. // © 1000seen.de

    Ivenack Oaks National Natural Monument

    • Open today
    • Tiergarten, 17153 Ivenack

    The 1,000-year-old Ivenacker oaks belong to the Ivenacker Tiergarten. They are cultural and natural historical highlight of the area.

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  • © Petra Mentz

    The house community Pappelweg 3

    • Pappelweg, 19217 Carlow

    Exhibition with the house community and guest exhibitors, photos, paintings, guitar music, book flea market.

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  • Luplower Kräutergärtnerei // © Silke Voss

    Luplow herb nursery

    • Voßfelder Str., 17091 Luplow

    Green vanitas still life in the middle of Arcadia

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  • Schiffsobjekte aus Holz // © Südliche Boddenküste

    Gallery ship variations and objects

    • Beughorst, 18314 Kronsberg Lüdershagen

    Gallery ship variations and objects

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  • Essbereich // © Astrid Stump

    Stump's Schweizer Hof

    • Mühlenstr., 17252 Mirow

    Vacation apartment for connoisseurs: At Stump's in the new Schweizer Hof in Mirow you will experience real Swiss wine and pleasure culture.

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  • The medieval village church of Kuppentin in late summer. // © Tourismusverband Mecklenburg-Schwerin

    Kuppentin church

    • Mühlenbachstraße, 19386 Kuppentin

    Kuppertin Church is one of the oldest and most important village churches in Mecklenburg in terms of architectural history. In addition to church services, the church is also used for exhibitions, lectures and musical events during the summer months. It can be visited. The adjacent building houses the village church history museum.

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  • Sculpture park Wesenberg // © Silke Voss

    Sculpture park Wesenberg

    • Am Weißen See, 17255 Wesenberg

    A curiosity of the most diverse cultures unites on wooded terrain on the outskirts of Wesenberg: the owner is a Chinese, and Australian art is shown alongside selected regional and European art.

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  • Atelier für Musik und Kunst // © Nora Gauger

    Studio Nora Gauger

    • Lange Straße, 18195 Tessin

    The visual artist and singer-songwriter Nora Gauger has a studio in the flower town of Ticino.

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  • © Kultur- und Sportring e.V.

    Malchow Monastery Café

    • Open today
    • Kloster, 17213 Malchow

    More than 700 years ago, nuns met to dine together in the refectory of the former Damenstift, the oldest building in Malchow Abbey.

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  • © MV-T / Markus Tiemann

    Gothic plank house

    • Open today
    • Mühlenstraße, 18439 Stralsund

    The Dielenhaus is a historical monument in the heart of the city and offers a view of the most important Stralsund buildings and the entire Old Town Island with its miniature exhibition.

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  • Children Youth Art House Güstrow

    • Baustraße, 18273 Güstrow

    We show seen and invented from all workshops: painting, graphics, textiles and objects. Figures in the variety of their shape testify to the imagination of the children and young people. The exhibition encourages participation - material is ready.

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  • © The Grand Hotel Management GmbH

    Artists' quarter Seezeichen

    • Dorfstraße, 18347 Ostseebad Ahrenshoop

    Being located directly behind the dunes the Künstlerquartier Seezeichen ensures exclusive holiday moments in Ahrenshoop.

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  • © Fleesensee Feriendorf GmbH

    BEECH Resort Fleesensee creative workshop

    • Am Kalkberg, 17213 Goehren-Lebbin

    In the BEECH studio, your creativity will come to the fore - painting ceramics, making mosaics, fabric printing or felting and, last but not least, carving for young and old. Registration required Tel. 039932 80300, BEECH Resort Fleesensee

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  • © Joachim Jung

    Pottery & Sculpture Park Jung

    • Ausbau, 18211 Glashagen

    Joachim Jung - pottery with permanent exhibition and guided tours of the workshop

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  • © Hiddenseer Hafen- und Kurbetrieb

    Henni Lehman House

    • Wiesenweg, 18565 Vitte/Hiddensee

    House of the guest

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  • © Töpperhus Ahrenshoop

    The Töpperhus

    • Bauernreihe, 18347 Ostseebad Ahrenshoop OT Niehagen

    The ceramics workshop located directly on the Saaler Bodden, was founded by master potter Renate Jankowski on June 1, 1999. The production of the ceramics takes place according to old tradition on the potter's wheel. The pottery is lovingly decorated by hand with regional motifs of flora and fauna.

    Read more: "The Töpperhus"
  • Pfarrhaus Wusterhusen mit ständiger Ausstellung Karl Lappe // © Josephin Bock

    Constant Exhibition of the Poet Karl Gottlieb Lappe in Wusterhusen near Lubmin

    • Wolgaster Straße, 17509 Wusterhusen

    Karl Gottlieb Lappe - a nearly forgotten Poet (1773-1843). A constant exhibition in Wusterhusen, close to the beach Resort Lubmin, is located in the rectory of Wusterhusen's church. Here, the life and works of the poet Karl Lappe is documented and readings bring the poet's achievements closer. Wusterhusen is one of the stations of the "Route of North German Romanticism".

    Read more: "Constant Exhibition of the Poet Karl Gottlieb Lappe in Wusterhusen near Lubmin"
  • © Kulturmühle Benz e.V.

    Dutch Windmill Benz

    • Mühlenweg, 17429 Benz

    Historic Dutch windmill (built in 1821) with largely preserved and intact interior. The path from grain to flour and other grain products can be traced using the old machinery. In the bakehouse hikers and visitors find the ideal resting place with coffee and cake. In the cellar of the mill there is an exhibition with reproductions of paintings by Lyonel Feininger showing motifs from Benz and Neppermin. From the mill you have a magnificent view over the "Usedom Switzerland".

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  • © MV Foto e.V. Fotografin: Christine Jörss-Munzlinger

    Kay Gundlack Shoe Manufactory

    • Neuer Markt, 19370 Parchim

    In the old clothier and shoemaker town of Parchim, Kay Gundlack finds the peace and inspiration he needs to create his bespoke shoes. Stars and celebrities order shoes from him and sometimes he even flies around the world to take measurements. In the specialist workshop in Parchim on the Elde River, visitors can watch the master at work in his shoe factory.

    Read more: "Kay Gundlack Shoe Manufactory"
  • © Schaumanufaktur Ostsee Schmuck

    Amber Foam Manufacture Baltic Sea Jewelry

    • An der Mühle, 18311 Ribnitz-Damgarten

    Amber - Gold of the SeaBaltic Jewelry Schaumanufaktur - jewelry making to touch.Here you can not only experience jewelry making up close, but also admire the most extensive amber jewelry sales exhibition in Europe.

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  • © Südliche Boddenküste

    Pottery Löber & Schmidt-Löber

    • Große Bauernreihe, 18317 Saal

    Jasmin Löber and Tonio Schmidt-Löber produce artistic ceramics for everyday use in their 3rd generation pottery. Handwork and an elaborate firing process in the wood fire make all vessels unique. The workshop with sales barn, located in a rural courtyard idyll, invites you to linger and choose.

    Read more: "Pottery Löber & Schmidt-Löber"
  • Fischlandhaus Library Baltic resort Wustrow // © Moritz Kertzscher

    Fischlandhaus Wustrow

    • Closed today
    • Neue Straße, 18347 Ostseebad Wustrow

    The Fischlandhaus is a listed high-ceilinged house in Neue Straße.

    Read more: "Fischlandhaus Wustrow"
  • Historische Ansicht des Kloster Malchows // © Kultur- und Sportring e.V.

    Malchow Monastery Art Museum

    • Open today
    • Kloster, 17213 Malchow

    The Malchow Monastery Art Museum is located in historically renovated rooms where works of art are presented in their uniqueness. The history of regional artists becomes a tangible experience.

    Read more: "Malchow Monastery Art Museum"
  • © Bernd Kehrer

    Antiquarian bookshop

    • Open today
    • Am Stadthafen, 17235 Neustrelitz

    A treasure for book lovers

    Read more: "Antiquarian bookshop"
  • © Stadt Barth

    Noble Miss's Convent

    • Hunnenstraße, 18356 Barth

    The baroque building complex of the Noble Misses' Convent was built between 1733 and 1741 and was founded by the Swedish Queen Ulrike Eleonore.

    Read more: "Noble Miss's Convent"

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