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Guide · ArtThe art scene in Stuttgart.
From the postmodern Staatsgalerie to working galleries and street art in back courtyards: Stuttgart's art scene is bigger than the city's car reputation suggests.
Stuttgart is more than engines and wine. Between the Kessel, the steep valley basin the city center sits in, and the vineyards above it there is a surprisingly dense art scene: world-class museums, a grown gallery quarter and a street art culture that plays out in courtyards and underpasses. Here is where to find art in Stuttgart.
The big art museums
Two houses at the edge of the city core form the core of it. The Staatsgalerie Stuttgart, with James Stirling's postmodern extension, runs from the Old Masters to classical modernism, from Picasso to Otto Dix. Diagonally across on Schlossplatz, the glass cube of the Kunstmuseum Stuttgart glows, its collection built around Otto Dix.
If you want art and engineering in one, read the Mercedes-Benz Museum as an architecture and design show rather than just a car show. UNStudio's double helix is a work in its own right.
Staatsgalerie · Kunstmuseum · Mercedes-Benz Museum · All museums
The gallery scene
Stuttgart has a grown gallery landscape, from established addresses like Galerie Schlichtenmaier, which works with classical modernism and contemporary art, to younger rooms showing contemporary positions. Density is highest in the city core, with many galleries within walking distance of the Königstraße and around Stuttgart-Mitte.
Current shows and openings change constantly, so it pays to check the individual gallery pages before you head out.
Street art in the Kessel
Away from the museums, the scene lives on the street. Legal walls, underpasses and back courtyards serve as canvas, especially in the east and around the Wagenhallen in the north. Guided street art tours show you the works and explain the background, often with a stop at a local studio. If you go on your own, keep your eyes open around the city core.
Art in public space
Plenty is visible without paying admission. Sculptures and installations stand in the city's parks, from the Rosensteinpark through the Killesberg hillside park to the Schlossgarten. Commissioned architectural art shapes the Europaviertel and individual facades downtown.
Art events through the year
The high point for night owls is the annual Lange Nacht der Museen, the long night of museums, when dozens of houses stay open late on a shared ticket with shuttle service. Add to that festivals like the Stuttgarter Filmwinter for experimental film and media art.
Common questions
Which art museums are a must in Stuttgart?
The Staatsgalerie Stuttgart and the Kunstmuseum Stuttgart on Schlossplatz. Both are central and easy to reach on foot.
Are there street art tours?
Yes. Guided tours cover the main works downtown and in the scene quarters, some with a studio visit. Dates change seasonally.
When is the Lange Nacht der Museen?
It runs annually, usually in spring. One ticket gets you into many houses and covers the shuttle buses between the venues.
Museums without the line
From the Mercedes-Benz Museum to the Wilhelma: book tickets for Stuttgart's highlights in advance.
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Hotels near the museums
A base in Stuttgart-Mitte puts both big art museums within walking distance. Compare live rates.
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