From 27 March to 30 August 2026, the Hamburger Kunsthalle is presenting “Maria Lassnig and Edvard Munch”, the first major dual exhibition to bring the work of Austrian artist Lassnig (1919–2014) and Norwegian painter Munch (1863–1944) into an exciting dialogue. Despite the time span that separates the two artists, they share a unique approach to colour as an expression of the inner self, as a medium for emotions such as sadness, joy, fear or loneliness. The exhibition shows parallels in their life stories and opens up new ways of reading the work of both artists. In a thematic juxtaposition, unusual pictorial inventions become visible in which both emotional states and unnoticed physical sensations take centre stage.
With the subtitle “Painting flow = Life flow” — borrowed from a work by Maria Lassnig — the exhibition emphasises the deep connection between artistic expression and the life process. For both artists, painting was a way of questioning themselves and the world, which is impressively visualised in over 180 works: Major works, rarely shown paintings, works on paper, films, photographs and a sculpture invite visitors to experience the boundary-crossing nature of colour and form in a new way. A visit to the Galleries of the Present promises intensive encounters with the creative flow of two outstanding artistic personalities.
