KREMS.- Stretching over 1.6 kilometers through the enchanting twin city of Krems-Stein, the Kunstmeile Krems brings together a diverse range of museums and galleries. At its cultural heart lies the Museumsplatz, home to three major exhibition venues—the Landesgalerie Niederösterreich, the Kunsthalle Krems, and the Karikaturmuseum Krems. On Dominikanerplatz in Krems’s Old Town, visitors can explore the museumkrems and the Dominikanerkirche, the latter serving as a seasonal exhibition space for art. At the western end of the Kunstmeile Krems, on the Minoritenplatz in Stein, visitors will find the Forum Frohner, completing this vibrant cultural axis.
Nature and Art: A Central Theme for 2025
In the coming year, the Kunstmeile Krems will feature 23 new exhibitions across its five central museums, with a central thematic focus on the relationship between nature and art. The Landesgalerie Niederösterreich’s major exhibition, “Flower Power. A Cultural History of Plants,” delves into the historical significance and influence of both utilitarian and ornamental plants on human life. Spanning artworks from the Gothic period to the present day, as well as cultural artifacts and scientific specimens, this exhibition reveals how commodities like cotton and coffee reshaped global history. It also examines the symbolic weight of tulips, apples, or imperial crowns. Major artists such as Carl Spitzweg, Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, Maria Lassnig, and Renate Bertlmann are featured, highlighting the rich tapestry of connections between humanity, art, and the natural world.
Artist Regula Dettwiler contributes a site-specific, immersive installation called “Unvergesslich” (Unforgettable) on the ground floor of the Landesgalerie. Her work explores the personal memories that people associate with plants. She incorporates pressed flowers and greenery donated by local residents from Krems and the surrounding area, along with salvaged plastic flowers formerly discarded in cemeteries. This heartfelt approach transforms the gallery space into a profound repository of private emotions and shared histories.
The Karikaturmuseum Krems takes a lighthearted yet critical approach with “Sehnsucht Wald. Geschichten und Karikatur” (Longing for the Forest: Stories and Caricature), examining humankind’s fascination with forests. The show probes the forest as a mystical fairy-tale setting, a place of yearning, a dangerous wilderness, or a source of strength. Drawings and cartoons by Bruno Haberzettl, Manfred Deix, Erich Sokol, IRONIMUS, Sarah Morrissette, and others humorously investigate humankind’s relationship with nature while highlighting the threats to woodland ecosystems caused by human actions.
Over at museumkrems, the exhibition “metamorph” by Alexandra Kontriner artistically confronts the ecological shifts in her immediate environment. Central to the display is her three-part work “Der Wald” (The Forest), for which she was awarded the 2024 Erich Grabner Prize of the City of Krems for Artistic Graphics. This exhibition encourages visitors to reflect deeply on nature, ecology, and the evolving landscapes around them.
30 Years of Kunsthalle Krems
In 2025, the Kunsthalle Krems celebrates its 30th anniversary. Opened in March 1995, it laid the foundation for the Kunstmeile Krems as Lower Austria’s leading center for visual art. Today, it is the region’s primary destination for international contemporary art exhibitions.
Marking this milestone, the Kunsthalle Krems will open with a landmark exhibition dedicated to the late American painter Susan Rothenberg, a pioneer of figurative Neo-Expressionism. Rothenberg’s monumental equestrian paintings from the 1970s have become iconic within contemporary painting. Notably, the Kunsthalle Krems will be the only European exhibition space to mount a monographic show in honor of Rothenberg’s 80th birthday, ensuring that her legacy resonates with a European audience.
Expressive Painting and Neo-Expressionism
In tandem with the Susan Rothenberg show, visitors can deepen their exploration of Neo-Expressionism along the Kunstmeile. The Forum Frohner will stage two exhibitions that situate Adolf Frohner’s work within the neo-expressive movements of the 1980s and 1990s in Austria. The spring exhibition, “Wild Painting. Frohner and Neoexpressionism,” places Frohner’s 1980s output in dialogue with the emerging “Neue Wilde” generation. Later in the year, “Frohner expressiv!” will focus on the artist’s late works, offering a comprehensive view of his evolving expressive style.
The Kunsthalle Krems will also present recent works by New York artist Joe Bradley beginning in November 2025. Bradley’s latest paintings demonstrate a rich density of painterly surfaces, vibrant color, and subtle graphic accents. His practice moves fluidly between abstraction and figuration, drawing on Western painting traditions from Henri Matisse to Willem de Kooning. Notably, 2025 marks Bradley’s 50th birthday, adding a celebratory note to his exhibition.
Honoring Christa Hauer at 100
In tribute to the 100th birthday of Austrian artist Christa Hauer (1925–2013), the Landesgalerie Niederösterreich mounts a comprehensive exhibition focusing on her work as both gallerist and activist. Artworks, archive materials, catalogs, posters, and photographs document her influential Galerie im Griechenbeisl and Schloss Lengenfeld, where Hauer was actively engaged in cultural and socio-political initiatives.
Michael Pammesberger Turns 60
The Karikaturmuseum Krems will celebrate the 60th birthday of political cartoonist Michael Pammesberger, who has been producing incisive daily drawings for the Kurier for nearly three decades. The extensive exhibition, “Planet Pammesberger,” honors his keen observations and commentary on political life, showcasing the breadth of his career and impact on Austrian journalism.
Family Highlight: The Gruffalo and More
For families, a beloved children’s book character arrives in Krems: the world-famous Gruffalo. The Karikaturmuseum Krems presents “Grüffelo & Co. Stories by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler,” featuring around 70 original illustrations, sketches, and preparatory works. Translated into more than 100 languages, the Gruffalo’s story captivates audiences worldwide, offering an enchanting display of literary and visual creativity suitable for all ages.
Spiritual Life in Krems
At museumkrems, the exhibition “As in Heaven, so on Earth – As on Earth, so in Heaven?” provides a fresh lens on religious practices. At seven different stations, historical artifacts from the city’s collections are juxtaposed with contemporary artistic perspectives, encouraging visitors to consider spirituality from multiple angles.
25 Years of AIR – ARTIST IN RESIDENCE Niederösterreich
For 25 years, the AIR – ARTIST IN RESIDENCE Niederösterreich program has fostered international exchange, hosting over 1,250 artist residencies from Europe and beyond. In 2025, AIR will intensify its public visibility by presenting dynamic projects that broaden cultural networks. A standout is the exhibition of works by Mohsin Shafi at the Kunsthalle Krems. The Pakistani artist tackles themes such as homophobia, racism, and restrictions of personal freedom. Shafi’s residency in Krems during winter 2023/24 informed this impactful show.
A Year of Solo Exhibitions
Eighteen artists and collectives will have solo shows on the Kunstmeile Krems in 2025. The galeriekrems spotlights Elisabeth Homar, Judith Zillich, and Christoph Höschele. The Landesgalerie Niederösterreich features photographer Heidi Harsieber and the future recipient of the 2025 Würdigungspreis des Landes Niederösterreich (Honorary Prize of Lower Austria). At the Dominikanerkirche Krems, sculptor Julia Belova will create a site-specific installation. In cooperation with the donaufestival, the Kunsthalle Krems hosts Turkish artist Göksu Kunak, addressing political manipulation and cover-ups. Additionally, internationally acclaimed comic artist Ulli Lust comes to the Karikaturmuseum Krems with her latest autobiographical graphic novel, “Die Frau als Mensch” (The Woman as a Human Being).
25 Years as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: The Wachau
In commemoration of the Wachau’s 25th anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Landesgalerie Niederösterreich emphasizes its cultural importance. Masterpieces and objects enhance the “On the Road. A Journey into the Collection” exhibition. In partnership with the Welterbegemeinden Wachau (World Heritage Communities), the ASAGAN artists’ collective, and other regional partners, families can enjoy a multimedia guide tour, the “Kunstpiratin unterwegs!” (Art Pirate on the Move!) mini-book, and corresponding interactive theater, all designed to celebrate and engage with the region’s storied heritage.
In short, the Kunstmeile Krems in 2025 offers visitors an extraordinary opportunity to engage with art and culture that span centuries, styles, and global perspectives. From nature-focused exhibitions and neo-expressive painting to critical social commentary and family-friendly storytelling, the year’s diverse program affirms the Kunstmeile Krems as a dynamic cultural destination bridging past, present, and future.
