A place for engaging with modern and contemporary art

Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein is the state museum of modern and contemporary art. With its iconic architecture and the dark reflective façade, it has been a distinctive landmark in Vaduz since 2000, contributing significantly to the international profile of Liechtenstein.

 

The collection comprises international art from early modernism to the present day, with an emphasis on sculptures, installations and objects. Instead of a permanent collection display, the Museum presents changing formats that always enable a new dialogue with the works from the collection. With exhibitions on current topics, Artist's Choice displays or solo shows, the Kunstmuseum aims to get its audience enthusiastic about the multitude of different stories entrenched in the collection.

 

The Museum pursues a goal of demonstrating new perspectives and enriching "contaminations", with performative and processual elements playing a key role. It sees itself as an open venue for encounter and exchange – the "side-light gallery" provides space for events, projects, deeper engagement and shared experiences. Interdisciplinarity, diversity, sustainability and inclusion are crucial values for Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, values that are equally reflected in the programming, including the art education offerings.

 

The new Hilti Art Foundation exhibition building was added to the Kunstmuseum in 2015. This important private collection from Liechtenstein comprises outstanding works of classical modernism and contemporary art. Both houses have their own programme but are connected architecturally and share the same entrance and ticket desk area. 130 years of art history are waiting to be experienced and discovered at Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein.

  • History of the Museum

    In 1967, the State of Liechtenstein received a gift of ten paintings which resulted in the foundation of the State Art Collection of Liechtenstein the following year. The first curator of the collection was Dr. Georg Malin, a Liechtenstein artist, historian, art historian and politician. He soon expanded the collection to include international modern and contemporary art. The building of the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein how it presents itself today was realized with the support of a group of private donors. Together with the government of Liechtenstein and the City of Vaduz, they planned and implemented the construction of the museum. In August 2000 the building was officially donated to the Principality of Liechtenstein as a millennium gift. The Government established a public foundation to operate the museum. The Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein was formally opened on November 12, 2000. From 1996 until 2021, Dr. Friedemann Malsch was director of the State Art Collection and later of Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein. Letizia Ragaglia succeeded him on 1 July 2021.