Artists' colonies and refuges

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
©© 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

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  • Atelier am Gothensee - Bild: Am Haken // © Heike Dittrich
    ©© 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.

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  • Außenansicht des Literaturhauses Uwe Johnson in Klütz // © Literaturhaus „Uwe Johnson“, Silke Winkler
    ©© Literaturhaus „Uwe Johnson“, Silke Winkler

    House of Literature "Uwe Johnson

    • Open today
    • Im Thurow, 23948 Klütz

    The "Uwe Johnson" House of Literature is located in a former granary built around 1890 near Klützer Marktplatz. Over two floors, the exhibition provides a multifaceted insight into the life and work of Uwe Johnson and thus presents the writer who has always remained closely associated with Mecklenburg.

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  • © Kurverwaltung Ahrenshoop · Foto Thomas Kalweit
    ©© Kurverwaltung Ahrenshoop · Foto Thomas Kalweit

    Kunsthaus am Schifferberg

    • Schifferberg, 18347 Ostseebad Ahrenshoop

    Kunsthaus am Schifferberg

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  • Caps and loops // © Asta Rutzke
    ©© Asta Rutzke

    Textile studio Asta Rutzke

    • Gutshofstraße, 18334 Ravenhorst

    Handmade fashion from our own design - timeless, feminine clothing and accessories made from natural fabrics - exclusively as individual pieces or in very small series

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  • © Hiddenseer Hafen- und Kurbetrieb
    ©© Hiddenseer Hafen- und Kurbetrieb

    Sexton's house - Gallery at the archway

    • Am Klostertor, 18565 Kloster

    It was reconstructed from the old school and sexton's house to become the winter church and parish hall of the monastery.

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  • Gallery Red Pavilion

    • Open 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.

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  • die Alte Molkerei in Baumgarten // © Frank Burger
    ©© Frank Burger

    Gallery Old Dairy Baumgarten

    • Warnowstraße, 18246 Baumgarten

    Today, the rooms of the Old Baumgarten Dairy house an art exhibition.

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  • Die Alte Ausspanne mit der letzten Rübe, die über die Bahnstrecke mit der alten Rübenbahn zum Tessiner Bahnhof gebracht wurde. // © Förderverein der Heimat- und Kulturpflege Walkendorf
    ©© 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"

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