Introduction

Skulptur Projekte Münster is a unique decennial exhibition that has profoundly shaped discourse around public art and sculpture since its inception in 1977. Taking place every ten years in the historical city of Münster, Germany, it invites artists from around the world to create site-specific works that respond to the urban fabric, history, and social context of the city.

Unlike traditional biennials that rely primarily on institutional spaces, Skulptur Projekte Münster unfolds across the entire urban landscape—from historical squares and parks to mundane infrastructure and peripheral neighborhoods. This expansive approach transforms Münster into a laboratory for investigating the complex relationship between art, public space, and urban life.

The extended ten-year interval between exhibitions gives artists unusual freedom to develop ambitious projects while allowing the exhibition itself to respond to generational shifts in artistic practice and urban development. Many works from previous editions have been acquired by the city, creating a remarkable open-air collection that documents the evolution of public sculpture over nearly half a century.

Curatorial Approach

Skulptur Projekte Münster's curatorial approach is characterized by its deep contextual engagement with the city of Münster and its commitment to exploring the evolving relationship between art and public space. Each edition invites approximately 30-40 international artists to develop site-specific works in dialogue with particular locations throughout the city—ranging from historic squares and medieval churches to parking lots, pedestrian underpasses, and suburban residential areas.

Artists are given extraordinary freedom and substantial time (typically two to three years) to research, develop, and realize their projects. This extended engagement allows for a deeper understanding of the city's physical, historical, and social contexts, resulting in works that respond meaningfully to their surroundings rather than simply occupying space. The exhibition prioritizes new commissions over existing works, emphasizing the process of artistic production and site-specificity.

Over its five-decade history, the exhibition has evolved from its initial focus on sculptural form to embrace a broader understanding of spatial practice that includes performance, sound, digital media, and social interventions. While expanding conceptually, Skulptur Projekte remains committed to addressing fundamental questions about the role of art in public life, the politics of urban space, and the tensions between permanence and ephemerality, commemoration and critique, aesthetics and function.

History & Evolution

Skulptur Projekte Münster emerged in 1977 from a specific local controversy over public sculpture. When the American minimalist artist George Rickey's kinetic sculpture "Three Rotating Squares" was installed in Münster in 1975, it sparked heated debate among citizens about the role of contemporary art in public space. In response, the Westfälisches Landesmuseum (now LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur) and its director Klaus Bußmann, together with curator Kasper König, conceived Skulptur Projekte as a platform for dialogue about the relationships between art, public space, and urban life.

The exhibition was initially planned as a one-time event but its success led to its continuation on a ten-year cycle. This decennial rhythm—unusual in the contemporary art world—has become one of Skulptur Projekte's defining characteristics, allowing the exhibition to chart significant shifts in artistic practice and urban development over extended periods while giving artists substantial time to develop ambitious projects.

Notable Artists & Works

Throughout its five editions, Skulptur Projekte Münster has featured works by many of the world's most significant artists, resulting in numerous landmark public sculptures and interventions. While most works are temporary and dismantled after each exhibition, approximately 40 pieces have been acquired by the city or private collectors and remain permanently installed throughout Münster, creating a remarkable open-air museum of contemporary sculpture.

Claes Oldenburg

Giant Pool Balls (1977)
Permanently installed, these monumental sculptures at Aasee Lake have become symbols of the city and are among the most iconic works from Skulptur Projekte.

Bruce Nauman

Square Depression (2007)
Initially conceived in 1977 but realized thirty years later, this inverted pyramid creates a descending public plaza that alters visitors' spatial perception.

Ayşe Erkmen

On Water (2017)
A temporary bridge installed just below the water's surface across the harbor basin, creating an illusion of walking on water while highlighting historical shipping routes.

Permanent Collection

Over five decades, Skulptur Projekte has left a legacy of permanent works throughout Münster. These acquired pieces form a unique collection that traces the evolution of public sculpture from the late 20th century to the present day.

Concrete Rings

Donald Judd (1977)

Two large concrete rings placed in the Aasee park, exemplifying Judd's minimalist approach to form and space. The work creates a dialogue with the landscape through its geometric precision.

Das Gegenläufige Konzert

Rebecca Horn (1987/1997)

An installation in the medieval Zwinger tower that transforms the former prison into a contemplative space through light, movement, and sound, addressing the site's complex history.

Herman's Garden

Ilya and Emilia Kabakov (1997)

A walled garden containing a fictional narrative about a former resident, blending environmental art with storytelling to create an intimate public space of memory and imagination.