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

  • "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"
  • © Andreas Günther, Geschichtswerkstatt Rostock

    Kröpelin Gate

    • Kröpeliner Tor (Kröpeliner Straße 50), 18055 Rostock

    The Kröpelin Gate is one of the former 22 city gates of the medieval city fortification of Rostock.

    Read more: "Kröpelin Gate"
  • Atelier am Gothensee - Picture: Am Haken // © Heike Dittrich

    Studio at Gothensee

    • Gothenweg, Bansin Seebad Bansin

    The studio is located in the seaside resort of Bansin on the picturesque Gothensee. In the sales studio, guests can view and purchase a variety of mainly maritime colorful paintings. Intuitive painting courses and painting trips are also offered in groups and as individual coaching sessions.

    Read more: "Studio at Gothensee"
  • © Regine Schönemann

    Ceramics-mecklenburgervogel.de

    • Lewitzstraße, 19374 Rusch

    KeramikMecklenburgervogel: Salt-glazed stoneware and colorful stoneware tableware Ceramics in the blue house: Stoneware with gold overlay and colorful stoneware tableware

    Read more: "Ceramics-mecklenburgervogel.de"
  • © Friedemann Löber

    Ceramic workshop Friedemann Löber

    • Bernhard-Seitz-Weg, 18347 Ostseebad Ahrenshoop OT Althagen

    Studio and gallery in the thorn house

    Read more: "Ceramic workshop Friedemann Löber"
  • © TZ Südliche Boddenküste

    KRANICH path in the Hessenburg estate park

    • Freely accessible at any time
    • Dorfplatz, 18317 Hessenburg

    The six stations of the KRANICH path in the estate park trace the life of the crane. The station boards designed by artists provide orientation and installations encourage visitors to run, hide, attempt to fly or dance the crane dance. The trail is freely accessible in the park.

    Read more: "KRANICH path in the Hessenburg estate park"
  • Bracelet // © Vivien Hellweg

    Parkland Goldsmith Vivien Hellweg

    • Dalwitz, 17179 Walkendorf

    I welcome you to my parkland goldsmith shop in Dalwitz. Look forward to great unique pieces of jewelry made of gold, silver and tantalum. My pencil portrait drawings will also be on display. I will give you an insight into my workshop, which was newly established in 2018, and will be very happy to answer any questions you may have about goldsmithing. I look forward to seeing you!

    Read more: "Parkland Goldsmith Vivien Hellweg"
  • Wildlife Usedom tiger // © H. Böhm / trassenheide.de

    Wildlife Usedom

    • Open today
    • Wiesenweg, 17449 Trassenheide

    Wildlife Usedom is the innovative nature experience for the whole family. Our friendly team welcomes all guests on a tour through the landscapes of the five continents.

    Read more: "Wildlife Usedom"
  • Kunsthaus Lisa im Hundertwasser-Stil // © Anja Röhl

    Art house Lisa

    • Pappelweg, 18337 Neu Guthendorf

    Kunsthaus Lisa is an old cottage designed in the Hundertwasser style, which is mainly dedicated to women's art. Women's art is often underrepresented and we therefore want to come up with a special offer of women's art.

    Read more: "Art house Lisa"
  • © Domenik Jante

    Village studio Jante

    • Lindenallee, 19288 Warlow

    In the courtyard gallery are shown new and old oil paintings and pencil drawings, the everyday scenarios and still lifes.

    Read more: "Village studio Jante"
  • Ölgemälde auf Biberschwanz // © Peter Ramsch

    Roof tile exhibition in the "Mecklenburg Switzerland" botanical garden

    • Rambow Hof, 17194 Moltzow

    From Schwabach to Schwerin, from Cologne to Berlin, roof tiles, slate, copper, zinc and lead tiles from 100 historic buildings from all over Europe,

    Read more: "Roof tile exhibition in the "Mecklenburg Switzerland" botanical garden"
  • © Irene Sohler

    Studio Irene Sohler

    • OT Fürstenwerder, Blockstr., 17291 Nordwestuckermark

    - Landscape - Interior - Still life - Figure - Please book a visit

    Read more: "Studio Irene Sohler"
  • Gallery Hartwich Rügen

    • Schulstraße, 18586 Ostseebad Sellin

    Contemporary art from Germany and Scandinavia in changing exhibitions all year round in a historic fire station building in the Baltic resort of Sellin on the axis between the harbor and the pier.

    Read more: "Gallery Hartwich Rügen"
  • © Hiddenseer Hafen- und Kurbetrieb

    Blue barn

    • Wiesenweg, 18565 Vitte/Hiddensee

    Hall house from the beginning of the 19th century.

    Read more: "Blue barn"
  • © VMO, Siekmann

    Ship in a bottle museum

    • Ostseeallee, 23946 Ostseebad Boltenhagen

    The private collection with the exhibition "Seafaring is distress" shows many ships in bottles, ship models, a miniature planetarium, old maritime equipment and flotsam and jetsam.

    Read more: "Ship in a bottle museum"
  • SUBITOW Gallery - Studio - Life

    • Klempenow, 17089 Bartow

    SUBITOW - Gallery - Studio - Life - is a project that has something surprising to offer the connoisseur and the layman - painting, sculpture, quilt, photography, gARTen, sound. It shows Art-aktuell inter- and regional. Bau&Schauhaus. Art&Life - almost always open - accessible.

    Read more: "SUBITOW Gallery - Studio - Life"
  • © MV-T, 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"
  • World of Experience of the State Center for Renewable Energies

    • Closed today
    • Am Kiefernwald, 17235 Neustrelitz

    This is not offered anywhere else: the unique exhibition "Resource Chamber Earth" in the world of experience of the State Center for Renewable Energies (Leea) in Neustrelitz. Understand - Experience - Participate!

    Read more: "World of Experience of the State Center for Renewable Energies"
  • © Hafen- und Kurbetrieb

    Museum of local history Hiddensee

    • Kirchweg, 18565 Kloster

    The museum of local history, located in one of the oldest buildings in the village of Kloster, is one of the cultural focal points of the island of Hiddensee.

    Read more: "Museum of local history Hiddensee"
  • Töpferei Tine und Jochen Löber // © Silke Voss

    Tine and Jochen Löber

    • Neu Tellin, 17129 Alt Tellin

    Happily far away from the tourist hustle and bustle of Ahrenshoop, the Löber couple lives at the end of a path that leads to a green potter's farm near Neu Tellin.

    Read more: "Tine and Jochen Löber"
  • © Steffen Boettcher

    Buildingracotta - Susanne Koenig

    • Große Burgstraße, 19395 Plau am See

    Painting of tiles and hand turned vessels in faience painting technique

    Read more: "Buildingracotta - Susanne Koenig"
  • © MV-T/ Gohlke

    die kramserei - many good ideas

    • Platz der Jugend, 19288 Klein Krams

    the kramserei - an over 170 year old hall farmhouse in the Griesen area - offers creative freedom in many ways: pottery, candle casting, soap boiling, willow weaving are courses in traditional crafts. In addition, there is a lot to experience live in the hall and on the park-like property.

    Read more: "die kramserei - many good ideas"
  • © tvv/Philipp Schulz

    Kulturspeicher Ueckermünde

    • Closed today
    • Bergstraße, 17373 Ueckermünde

    For years now, the Kulturspeicher Ueckermünde is a centre for art, culture, craft and tourism.

    Read more: "Kulturspeicher Ueckermünde"
  • Städtische Galerie Wollhalle // © André Hamann

    Municipal Gallery Wollhalle

    • Open today
    • Franz-Parr-Platz, 18273 Güstrow

    Originally built as a ducal horse stable, the Güstrow city fathers acquired the building in 1817 to store the wool produced in the country. Today, the wool hall houses modern gallery spaces in a historic ambience

    Read more: "Municipal Gallery Wollhalle"
  • © Mirko Boy

    House of the guest Baabe

    • Open today
    • Am Kurpark, 18586 Ostseebad Baabe

    Guests and residents of the Baltic resort Baabe are equally welcome in the Haus des Gastes behind the dune, which is also the seat of the spa administration.

    Read more: "House of the guest Baabe"
  • Gallery Dwarslöper

    • Kirchweg, 18565 Kloster

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

    Read more: "Gallery Dwarslöper"
  • © Julia Gnodtke

    Teterow City Library

    • Closed today
    • Neukalener Straße, 17166 Teterow

    The meeting place for young and old bookworms, culture lovers and art enthusiasts in the Bergringstadt.

    Read more: "Teterow City Library"
  • Plüschow Castle - Mecklenburg House of Artists

    • Am Schlosspark, 23936 Upahl / OT Plüschow

    In 1763, the Hamburg merchant Philipp Heinrich Stenglin had the two-story brick Plüschow Castle built between Wismar and Lübeck. Today the castle is used for many cultural events and invites especially art lovers.

    Read more: "Plüschow Castle - Mecklenburg House of Artists"
  • © Tourismusverband Mecklenburg-Schwerin e. V. / Uwe Nölke

    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.

    Read more: "RED REBANE GmbH | Bag Manufacturer"
  • Bröllin Castle // © Schloss Bröllin

    Bröllin Castle

    • Bröllin, 17309 Fahrenwalde

    Schloss Bröllin is a historic estate in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern that is now used as an international production center for the performing arts. Artists from all over the world work here on projects, residencies and workshops in a unique atmosphere.

    Read more: "Bröllin Castle"

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