The works from the collection of the LWL Museum that are exhibited at the Bentlage Monastery illustrate Westphalia’s contribution to modern art, from open-air painting to Expressionism and from New Objectivity to Abstract art. Set up fifteen years ago and rearranged in April 2011, the permanent exhibition presents a striking contrast between the historic touch of the venue and the modernity of the paintings from the first half of the 20th century that are exhibited here.

Westphalian artists made significant contributions to modern art: Otto Modersohn was among the founders of the Worpswede artists’ colony, whose members worked far from art centres, were opposed to academic training, and concentrated on rural scenes; August Macke, another Westphalian, is one of the most renowned German Expressionists, and created works whose pure and luminous colours convey an impression of harmony and cheerfulness; Josef Albers, who left his native Westphalia to study at the Bauhaus art school before emigrating to America in 1933, had a great influence on the development of art in the 1960s as a teacher.

The Westfälische Galerie Kloster Bentlage presents works not only by those artists, but also by Wilhelm Morgner, Christian Rohlfs, Hermann Stenner, Emil Schumacher, and Fritz Winter. All of these paintings, innovative and even revolutionary at the time they were created, have kept their expressive power to this day.

Tue.–Sat.: 2:00pm – 6:00pm
Sun. and public holidays: 10:00am – 6:00pm

Admission free