Be enthralled by spectacular art shows in Vienna's museums. These are exhibitions you really shouldn't miss!
The Albertina once again draws visitors with a brilliant exhibition on Edvard Munch in 2022. Sixty of his works enter into dialog with seven artists of the present day. (Edvard Munch, Street in Aagsgaardstrand, 1901)
– © Kunstmuseum Basel, Geschenk von Sigrid Schwarz von Spreckelsen und Sigrid Katharina Schwarz, 1979 Foto: Kunstmuseum Basel, Martin P. Bühler
New at the Leopold Museum: "Alfred Kubin. Confessions of a Tortured Soul". The themes of the Austrian artist seem more topical than ever: Violence, warlike destruction, plagues, natural disasters, manipulation of the masses. (Alfred Kubin, Into the Unknown, 1900/01)
– © Leopold Museum, Wien/Manfred Thumberger © Eberhard Spangenberg/Bildrecht, Wien, 2021
"Iron Men - Fashion in Steel" at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna shows precious suits of armor from around the world. They served as protective clothing in battle, but were also a part of everyday court life. A great exhibition for kids and families! (Field armor of the "Adlergarnitur" of Archduke Ferdinand II of Tyrol, 1529-1595)
– © KHM-Museumsverband
"KLIMT – The Immersive Experience" makes Gustav Klimt's unique work a multimedia experience. Light installations and projections bring the works to life.
– © COFO Entertainment
The Albertina modern presents "Ai Weiwei. In Search of Humanity", its most extensive retrospective ever dedicated to the Chinese artist and activist. In focus: The aspect of humanity and artistic responsibility in the work of Ai Weiwei. Also in the Albertina modern currently "Gustav Klimt: The Drawings" on the occasion of Klimt's 160th birthday. (Ai Weiwei, Illumination, 2019)
– © Courtesy of the artist and Lisson Gallery © 2022 Ai Weiwei
Until May 29: Psychoanalysis meets Surrealism: "Dalí-Freud. An Obsession" at the Lower Belvedere explains Sigmund Freud's influence on Salvador Dalí. (Image: Salvador Dalí, Swans Reflecting Elephants, 1937)
– © Salvador Dalí, Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí / Bildrecht, Wien 2021 / Foto: Robert Bayer, Bildpunkt
From May 14: As part of the Vienna Festival, the area of Belvedere 21 transforms into the "Austrian Museum for Black Entertainment and Black Music". It shows Black artists and entertainers in the German-speaking countries.
– © ÖMSUBM
Is everything that appears realistic to us true to life? This question is at the center of the new exhibition "True to Life. Realist Painting from 1850 to 1950" in the Upper Belvedere. (Gustav Klimt, Portrait of Mathilde Trau, around 1893)
– © Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Wien
Until June 19: The comprehensive special show "Josef Hoffmann. Progress Through Beauty" at the MAK – Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna, celebrates the outstanding oeuvre of the exceptional Viennese architect and designer. (Tea service for the Wiener Werkstätte, 1903)
– © MAK/Katrin Wißkirchen
The Habsburgs loved showing off the animals they owned. "The Emperor's Most Beautiful Animals" in the State Hall of the Austrian National Library shows depictions of animals from across four centuries – for example, the meerkat "Jannetel". (Green meerkat from the private menagerie of Emperor Franz II/I, Mathias Schmutzer, approx. 1797)
– © Österreichische Nationalbibliothek
What did the everyday life of the Viennese look like on the city's streets from the 1860s to the present day? "Instantly! Vienna Street Photography" begins on May 19 at the Wien Museum MUSA. (Heinrich Steinfest, Female Spectators at a Horse Race, 1956)
– © Sammlung Wien Museum, Heinrich Steinfest
At the Jewish Museum Vienna, "(Un)Pleasant Journey. The Life of Stefan Edlis after HIM" recounts the moving life story of Stefan Edlis, who fled the NS regime and became one of the most important collectors of contemporary art in the USA. (Picture of Stefan Edlis after his arrival in the USA, 1941/42)
– © Privatbesitz Familie Edlis
The Metro Kinokulturhaus celebrates Oskar Werner, who would have turned 100 years old this year, with an homage. The exhibition "100 Years of Oskar Werner" casts light on the many facets of the Oscar-nominated actor from Vienna.
– © Filmarchiv Austria/Sam Shaw
Twenty Austrian and international artists make the invisible elements of breath, air, and wind visible in a variety of ways. "When the Wind Blows" – the new exhibition at the Kunst Haus Wien. (Eduardo Leal, from the series Plastic Trees, 2014)
– © Eduardo Leal
Our sense of time changed in the pandemic. The exhibition "Shaping Time" at Belvedere 21 examines this and other topics using photographs and films. (Peter Köllerer, "Malcolm (NAMEN)", 2010-2015) – © Belvedere, Vienna, gift of the artist in 2021
– © Belvedere, Wien, Schenkung des Künstlers 2021
"David Hockney: INSIGHTS": The Bank Austria Kunstforum Wien dedicates the first comprehensive show in Austria to the Brit, who is considered to be the most expensive living artist. (Mr. and Mrs. Clark and Percy, 1970-1971)
– © David Hockney, Collection, Tate U.K.
The Austrian Architecture Museum invites you on an exciting, partly interactive journey: "Serious Fun" examines the importance of architecture games – from dollhouses to buildings in computer games. (Dollhouse by Sabine Bloch, MärchenHaft, 2005/2006)
– © MärchenHaft, Sabine Bloch, Photokünstlerin (2005–2006)
The Albertina once again draws visitors with a brilliant exhibition on Edvard Munch in 2022. Sixty of his works enter into dialog with seven artists of the present day. (Edvard Munch, Street in Aagsgaardstrand, 1901)
– © Kunstmuseum Basel, Geschenk von Sigrid Schwarz von Spreckelsen und Sigrid Katharina Schwarz, 1979 Foto: Kunstmuseum Basel, Martin P. Bühler
New at the Leopold Museum: "Alfred Kubin. Confessions of a Tortured Soul". The themes of the Austrian artist seem more topical than ever: Violence, warlike destruction, plagues, natural disasters, manipulation of the masses. (Alfred Kubin, Into the Unknown, 1900/01)
– © Leopold Museum, Wien/Manfred Thumberger © Eberhard Spangenberg/Bildrecht, Wien, 2021
"Iron Men - Fashion in Steel" at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna shows precious suits of armor from around the world. They served as protective clothing in battle, but were also a part of everyday court life. A great exhibition for kids and families! (Field armor of the "Adlergarnitur" of Archduke Ferdinand II of Tyrol, 1529-1595)
– © KHM-Museumsverband
"KLIMT – The Immersive Experience" makes Gustav Klimt's unique work a multimedia experience. Light installations and projections bring the works to life.
– © COFO Entertainment
The Albertina modern presents "Ai Weiwei. In Search of Humanity", its most extensive retrospective ever dedicated to the Chinese artist and activist. In focus: The aspect of humanity and artistic responsibility in the work of Ai Weiwei. Also in the Albertina modern currently "Gustav Klimt: The Drawings" on the occasion of Klimt's 160th birthday. (Ai Weiwei, Illumination, 2019)
– © Courtesy of the artist and Lisson Gallery © 2022 Ai Weiwei
Until May 29: Psychoanalysis meets Surrealism: "Dalí-Freud. An Obsession" at the Lower Belvedere explains Sigmund Freud's influence on Salvador Dalí. (Image: Salvador Dalí, Swans Reflecting Elephants, 1937)
– © Salvador Dalí, Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí / Bildrecht, Wien 2021 / Foto: Robert Bayer, Bildpunkt
From May 14: As part of the Vienna Festival, the area of Belvedere 21 transforms into the "Austrian Museum for Black Entertainment and Black Music". It shows Black artists and entertainers in the German-speaking countries.
– © ÖMSUBM
Is everything that appears realistic to us true to life? This question is at the center of the new exhibition "True to Life. Realist Painting from 1850 to 1950" in the Upper Belvedere. (Gustav Klimt, Portrait of Mathilde Trau, around 1893)
– © Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Wien
Until June 19: The comprehensive special show "Josef Hoffmann. Progress Through Beauty" at the MAK – Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna, celebrates the outstanding oeuvre of the exceptional Viennese architect and designer. (Tea service for the Wiener Werkstätte, 1903)
– © MAK/Katrin Wißkirchen
The Habsburgs loved showing off the animals they owned. "The Emperor's Most Beautiful Animals" in the State Hall of the Austrian National Library shows depictions of animals from across four centuries – for example, the meerkat "Jannetel". (Green meerkat from the private menagerie of Emperor Franz II/I, Mathias Schmutzer, approx. 1797)
– © Österreichische Nationalbibliothek
What did the everyday life of the Viennese look like on the city's streets from the 1860s to the present day? "Instantly! Vienna Street Photography" begins on May 19 at the Wien Museum MUSA. (Heinrich Steinfest, Female Spectators at a Horse Race, 1956)
– © Sammlung Wien Museum, Heinrich Steinfest
At the Jewish Museum Vienna, "(Un)Pleasant Journey. The Life of Stefan Edlis after HIM" recounts the moving life story of Stefan Edlis, who fled the NS regime and became one of the most important collectors of contemporary art in the USA. (Picture of Stefan Edlis after his arrival in the USA, 1941/42)
– © Privatbesitz Familie Edlis
The Metro Kinokulturhaus celebrates Oskar Werner, who would have turned 100 years old this year, with an homage. The exhibition "100 Years of Oskar Werner" casts light on the many facets of the Oscar-nominated actor from Vienna.
– © Filmarchiv Austria/Sam Shaw
Twenty Austrian and international artists make the invisible elements of breath, air, and wind visible in a variety of ways. "When the Wind Blows" – the new exhibition at the Kunst Haus Wien. (Eduardo Leal, from the series Plastic Trees, 2014)
– © Eduardo Leal
Our sense of time changed in the pandemic. The exhibition "Shaping Time" at Belvedere 21 examines this and other topics using photographs and films. (Peter Köllerer, "Malcolm (NAMEN)", 2010-2015) – © Belvedere, Vienna, gift of the artist in 2021
– © Belvedere, Wien, Schenkung des Künstlers 2021
"David Hockney: INSIGHTS": The Bank Austria Kunstforum Wien dedicates the first comprehensive show in Austria to the Brit, who is considered to be the most expensive living artist. (Mr. and Mrs. Clark and Percy, 1970-1971)
– © David Hockney, Collection, Tate U.K.
The Austrian Architecture Museum invites you on an exciting, partly interactive journey: "Serious Fun" examines the importance of architecture games – from dollhouses to buildings in computer games. (Dollhouse by Sabine Bloch, MärchenHaft, 2005/2006)
– © MärchenHaft, Sabine Bloch, Photokünstlerin (2005–2006)
The best from Vienna's museums
You can find further information on current exhibitions and an overview of Vienna's art hotspots at Museums & Exhibitions
Always stay up to date
You can find all exhibitions on in Vienna and many other events in our event database, together with all the information you'll need for your visit.
In April, enjoy diverse exhibitions in Vienna's extraordinary museums, like the Albertina.
– © WienTourismus/Peter Rigaud
In April, enjoy diverse exhibitions in Vienna's extraordinary museums, like the Albertina.
– © WienTourismus/Peter Rigaud
