Great, you’re now approaching the Württemberg Art Association Stuttgart! Look out for a building with a prominent green dome, and a statue of a deer perched on top of it. It's quite eye-catching, with its mix of traditional and modern architectural elements. You’ll also notice several tall flagpoles in front of it.
Now, let's dive into the interesting history of this place:
The Württemberg Art Association Stuttgart was founded way back in 1827, making it one of Germany's oldest art societies. With approximately 3,000 members today, it focuses on promoting contemporary art. It's headquartered in the Art Building Stuttgart, which you now see before you.
The association was initially led by Carl Urban Keller, a lawyer and painter, who also served as the honorary curator. The aim was to engage the citizens with art, procured artworks by local artists, and hosted exhibitions. Membership was linked to purchasing shares, which allowed members to participate in art raffles and eventually own pieces of art.
In 1913, the association moved into the Art Building designed by Theodor Fischer, turning it into a hub for contemporary art discussions. However, during the 1930s, the association, like many others, came under the control of the Nazi regime. In a notable incident in March 1933, a retrospective exhibition featuring Oskar Schlemmer's major work, "Bauhaustreppe," was shut down before it could even open.
The Art Building was almost completely destroyed during World War II. It wasn’t until 1961 that its reconstruction was completed, incorporating modern elements designed by Paul Bonatz and Günther Wilhelm. The building was shared with the Stuttgart City Gallery until 2005, when the gallery moved to a new location. Since 2012, the Württemberg Art Association has permanently occupied the new complex within the Art Building.
The association is a vital center for contemporary painting, graphics, photography, video art, installation, performance, and architecture. It regularly organizes exhibitions, lectures, conferences, and even awards scholarships. Members also get the chance to showcase their works in annual themed exhibitions. Noteworthy is the exhibition "The Beast is the Sovereign," organized in partnership with the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona in 2015, which was voted Exhibition of the Year by the German Art Critics Association (AICA).
So, next time you’re in need of an art overdose, you know where to head in Stuttgart!
