Kunstakademie (Art Academy), Dusseldorf

Dusseldorf Art Academy, founded in 1762 as a drawing school by Lambert Krahe, is a historic institution at the heart of Dusseldorf’s vibrant art scene. Its evolution into the "Electoral Palatinate Academy of Painters, Sculpture, and Architecture" in 1773 under Elector Carl Theodor marked its ascent as a renowned center for fine arts. Over the centuries, the academy has fostered pioneering artists, from Joseph Beuys to Gerhard Richter and Katharina Fritsch, and has been central to movements like ZERO, Fluxus, and German Pop.

By the 1990s, the Dusseldorf School of Photography, led by Bernd and Hilla Becher, gained international acclaim, with students such as Andreas Gursky and Candida Hofer redefining modern photography. Each winter semester, the academy’s neo-Renaissance building hosts a celebrated public tour, showcasing emerging talent. Engraved at the entrance, the academy’s guiding principle, “For our Students only the Best”, reflects its commitment to quality.

Today, it offers diverse programs in Fine Arts, Art Education, and Architecture, providing a comprehensive blend of art practice and art-related sciences. With 23 classes led by esteemed artists, the Dusseldorf Art Academy continues to uphold its legacy as a hub for innovative and interdisciplinary artistic development.

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Wiegels.

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Sight Name: Kunstakademie (Art Academy)
Sight Location: Dusseldorf, Germany (See walking tours in Dusseldorf)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Dusseldorf, Germany

Create Your Own Walk in Dusseldorf

Creating your own self-guided walk in Dusseldorf is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Rhine River Promenade Walk

The scenic Rheinuferpromenade (Rhine Promenade) is the lifeline of Dusseldorf. Currently one of the most beautiful places in the city and a very popular destination for both locals and tourists, this approximately 1.5-kilometer-long embankment was developed between 1990 and 1997 to a design by architect Niklaus Fritschi.

The project was easily one of the most successful waterfront... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles

Dusseldorf's Old Beer (Altbier) Walk

Just as London has given us Porter, Dublin – Stout, Burton – the original (English) IPA, and Cologne – Kolsch, Dusseldorf has contributed to the world of beers its signature Altbier. They say, Dusseldorf and Altbier go together like onion rings and blood sausage. Curiously enough, though, this delicious, cool-fermented and malty brew, ranging in color from dark brown to copper, is not... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles

Dusseldorf Introduction Walking Tour

The area at the confluence of the Rhine and Dussel rivers was on the outskirts of the Roman Empire and settled by Germanic fishing tribes. It is from these small beginnings that the town takes its name. "Dorf" translates to "village" in English. The city of Dusseldorf has since grown far larger than that original eighth-century fishing village.

Dusseldorf was first elevated... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles