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, © TMV/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

276 results

  • © Stefan Reiter und Heilke Freia Heller

    Art consumption Barth

    • Badstüberstraße, 18356 Barth

    The store studio in Barth - Lange Straße corner Badstüberstraße Look directly over the artists' shoulders. Artworks for Sale

    Read more: "Art consumption Barth"
  • © Anja Weyer

    Studio Anja Weyer

    • Open today
    • Bliedenstraße, 23966 Wismar

    New works on canvas and paper by Anja Weyer

    Read more: "Studio Anja Weyer"
  • © Kunsthof Bad Doberan e.V.

    "Kunsthof" Bad Doberan

    • Closed today
    • Am Markt (Hinterhof), 18209 Bad Doberan

    In the "Kunsthof" Bad Doberan you can experience the diversity of arts and crafts.

    Read more: ""Kunsthof" Bad Doberan"
  • © Gina Schulenberg

    Pottery Grabenitz

    • Zum Kölpinsee, 17192 Grabenitz

    The Becker family pottery is located in the middle of the idyllic landscape of the Mecklenburg Lake District, in the district of Grabenitz near Klink. The Becker family has been passionately dedicated to the craft of pottery for generations and is particularly known for its humorous decorative figures such as the "Glotzmuschel", the "Schlupfgeier" or the "Holzwürmer".

    Read more: "Pottery Grabenitz"
  • © Kunsthaus Neustrelitz e.V.

    Art House Neustrelitz

    • Schloßstraße, 17235 Neustrelitz

    The Kunsthaus is an "open house". It is open to anyone who wants to try their hand at art and culture and is looking for a space, like-minded people or support.

    Read more: "Art House Neustrelitz"
  • © Martina Kriedel

    The studio Martina Kriedel

    • Baumstraße, 19230 Zapel bei Hagenow

    In the midst of rustic nature lies the idyllic Zapel. There, where hedgehog and hare say "good night" to each other, you will discover the "Atelier Martina Kriedel". In a cozy atmosphere, you can look over the artist's shoulder as she creates. Here you will find the individually suitable gift for every occasion - whether portrait or self-designed marionette.

    Read more: "The studio Martina Kriedel"
  • © J. Lippke

    Visitor information centre of the Nature Park “Sternberger Seenland“

    • Open today
    • Am Markt, 19417 Warin

    The visitor information centre in Warin is the ideal starting point in order to inform oneself about the different destinations and experiences the nature park offers. One can learn something about the landscape’s formation and the way the human’s occupation influenced its development. The unique flora and fauna of the nature park greatly fascinate the visitors. Borrow a backpack at the visitor centre and discover the nature park in your own way.

    Read more: "Visitor information centre of the Nature Park “Sternberger Seenland“"
  • © Sphinx ET

    Boitin manor house

    • Hofstraße, 18249 Boitin

    Former estate domain house of the Rühn monastery - today a venue for events, open house for MittSommerRemise and Schlösserherbst and guided tours of the estate house also possible by appointment.

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  • © Ortwin Ackermann

    Small pottery Friedrichshagen

    • Dorfstraße, 18279 Lalendorf

    Workshop and gallery show, show turning and try your hand at the potter's wheel, raku firing.

    Read more: "Small pottery Friedrichshagen"
  • © Gerhard Güthoff

    Studio and sculpture garden Eva Güthoff

    • Dorfstraße, 18249 Eickhof

    Eva Güthoff models her sculptures, nudes and portraits from coarse stone masonry clay here. Her husband shows photos of nature.

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  • © Kulturforum PAMPINERHOF gGmbH

    kulturforum Pampin - sculpture park, art gallery

    • Dorfring, 19372 Pampin

    The sculpture park is "a place of inspiration". On a space of about 7,500 m2, it has more than 70 objects or installations of renowned contemporary artists. Current exhibitions in the galleries and park complete the collection.

    Read more: "kulturforum Pampin - sculpture park, art gallery"
  • © SPSG, Leo Seidel

    Rheinsberg Castle

    • Schloss Rheinsberg, 16831 Rheinsberg

    Rheinsberg Castle, picturesquely situated on Lake Grienericksee, allows us to immerse ourselves in the 18th century. Crown Prince Friedrich, later King Friedrich II and his brother Prince Heinrich developed this castle into a place that has lost none of its magic to this day.

    Read more: "Rheinsberg Castle"
  • © Moritz Kertzscher

    Windjammer Museum Barth

    • Hafenstraße, 18356 Barth

    A house of maritime treasures. The museum, newly founded in 2017, presents in a stylish villa from 1895, with more than 400 exhibits, probably the largest exhibition of historical ship portraits, so-called captain's pictures, and sailing ship dioramas in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The exhibits and descriptions provide an insight into the world of ship portraits as objects of maritime art and tell of the history and sailing in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

    Read more: "Windjammer Museum Barth"
  • © Hiddenseer Hafen- und Kurbetrieb

    Henni Lehman House

    • Wiesenweg, 18565 Vitte/Hiddensee

    House of the guest

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  • © TMV/Gohlke

    Manor house Landsdorf

    • Dorfstraße, 18465 Landsdorf

    The 19th century manor house Landsdorf is part of a listed ensemble and the centerpiece of a landscape park of about 7ha.

    Read more: "Manor house Landsdorf"
  • B14 Gerhard Marcks Artist House

    • Gerhard-Marcks-Weg, 18347 Ahrenshoop

    Büdnerei B14 is the former home of the famous German sculptor, draftsman and graphic artist Gerhard Marcks.

    Read more: "B14 Gerhard Marcks Artist House"
  • © TMV, Danny Gohlke

    World Heritage House Wismar

    • Open today
    • Lübsche Straße, 23966 Hansestadt Wismar

    The Visitor Centre is the third of its kind in Germany after Regensburg and Stralsund. Just in time for the opening of the new exhibition and event venue on World Heritage Day (June 1st, 2014), the prestigious Wallpaper Room and the surrounding panoramic pictures were also restored.

    Read more: "World Heritage House Wismar"
  • © Silke Voss

    Ilya Strittmatter / Heike Wiehle

    • Siedlungsweg, 17099 Sadelkow

    Here you can enjoy watching the wheel turning and have a coffee in the garden.

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  • © Kurverwaltung Ahrenshoop · Foto voigt&kranz UG, Prerow

    Schnepel Gallery III

    • Weg zum Kiel, 18347 Ostseebad Ahrenshoop

    Focus: old handicrafts in a modern household – the complete riches of bygone cultures representing 15 countries from Morocco to Eastern Europe.

    Read more: "Schnepel Gallery III"
  • © Förderverein der Heimat- und Kulturpflege Walkendorf

    Old outhouse

    • Dorfstraße, 17179 Walkendorf

    In the Mecklenburg ParkLand: At the village green, the meadow park, the church, the community center, the Wossidlo House and the Alte Ausspanne are united and offer an eventful village center.

    Read more: "Old outhouse"
  • © Annett Schröder

    Pottery Annett Schröder

    • OT Fürstenwerder, Kirchstr., 17291 Nordwestuckermark

    The picturesque homestead of an old blacksmith's shop now houses a pottery workshop and showrooms. Here you can expect dove blue tableware and raku ceramics.

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  • © 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".

    Read more: "Dutch Windmill Benz"
  • Ten Commandments" cycle, © W. Kothe

    Glass art in the forge garden at Rattey

    • Rattey, 17349 Schönbeck

    Since 2020, the artist Werner Kothe has been showing his glass art objects in the open space - in the middle of the village, opposite the castle - the exhibition is open all year round.

    Read more: "Glass art in the forge garden at Rattey"
  • 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.

    Read more: "Gallery Quadrados"
  • © TMV/Gohlke

    Gallery Red Pavilion

    • Closed today
    • Auf dem Kamp, 18209 Bad Doberan

    The art association Roter Pavillon Bad Doberan e. V. promotes art and artists through exhibitions in its gallery of the same name.

    Read more: "Gallery Red Pavilion"
  • © Stadt Parchim / Steffen Struck

    CULTURE MILL PARCHIM

    • Fischerdamm, 19370 Parchim

    Theater-Museum - A place of diversity, culture and youth, all under one roof.

    Read more: "CULTURE MILL PARCHIM"
  • © Gesine Häfner / Nationalpark-Zentrum KÖNIGSSTUHL

    UNESCO World Heritage Forum

    • Closed today
    • Waldhalle, 18546 Sassnitz

    The hiking base near the port town of Sassnitz on the island of Rügen is dedicated to the UNESCO World Natural Heritage idea. Nature lovers can learn about the phenomenon of ancient beech forests here or simply linger in the greenery, fortify themselves and unwind.

    Read more: "UNESCO World Heritage Forum"
  • Pottery Roswitha Ziethen, © Silke Voss

    Roswitha Ziethen

    • Ganschendorf, 17111 Sarow OT Ganschendorf

    Many fall in love at first sight with the opulent ladies, joyfully brought to life by the hands of former art teacher Roswitha Ziethen.

    Read more: "Roswitha Ziethen"
  • © TMV / Reuter

    Orangery Putbus

    • Closed today
    • Alleestraße, 18581 Putbus

    Look at art and enjoy art in the Orangery in Putbus.

    Read more: "Orangery Putbus"
  • © Luisa Graf

    Beach & Meadows Studio

    • Große Bauernreihe, 18317 Saal

    In a cozy, rural atmosphere, we invite you to discover the world of ceramics and get creative yourself. Here we produce unique ceramics and pass on our knowledge and passion for ceramics to you in our courses. Whether beginner or advanced - there is something for everyone.

    Read more: "Beach & Meadows Studio"

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