Brandhorst Museum, Munich

The Brandhorst Museum showcases a contemporary art collection owned by Udo Fritz-Hermann and his late wife, Anette Brandhorst. The museum building, known for its vibrant and eco-friendly design, is also highly esteemed by the local community as a remarkable example of modern architecture.

Udo Fritz-Hermann and Anette Brandhorst embarked on their contemporary art collection journey in 1971. Anette Brandhorst had a notable family background, being the great-granddaughter of the founder of Henkel, a company known for producing Persil powder, Pritt Stick glue, and Schwarzkopf haircare products. Unfortunately, Anette passed away due to cancer in 1999, after which her husband generously donated the entire collection to the State of Bavaria.

The state invested $67 million in constructing the museum, with the architectural design being the work of Matthias Sauerbruch. The building itself takes the form of a rectangular structure with two floors, featuring an exterior adorned with more than 36,000 ceramic louvers in 23 distinct colored glazes. Inside, whitewashed walls create an optimal backdrop for displaying the artwork, and there are three exhibition areas interconnected by staircases.

The exhibits within the Brandhorst Museum comprise a diverse range of artworks, including over 60 canvases by the American artist Cy Twombly, approximately 100 pieces by Andy Warhol, and works by other prominent artists such as Jannis Kounellis, Georg Baselitz, Gerhard Richter, and Bruce Nauman. Notable among the museum's treasures is a collection of 112 original editions of books featuring illustrations by Picasso.