Georg Kolbe Museum

The Georg Kolbe Museum is dedicated to the influential Berlin sculptor Georg Kolbe, known for expressive bronze figures that captured movement and modern life in the early 20th century. Housed in Kolbe’s former studio and residence in Westend, the museum blends art and architecture, offering a quiet space where sculpture, light, and garden views come together.

Art, Architecture, and Garden Setting

The museum’s low, modernist buildings surround a leafy courtyard, creating calm rooms flooded with natural light. Large windows frame the garden, where bronze sculptures stand among trees and hedges, shifting in appearance as the light changes through the day. Indoors, plaster models, bronzes, and archival materials trace Kolbe’s artistic process—from sketches and studies to finished works.

Life and Work of Georg Kolbe

Georg Kolbe (1877–1947) became one of Germany’s leading sculptors between the two world wars. His work often focuses on the human figure, exploring balance, athletic movement, and quiet stillness. The museum’s displays show how he worked with dancers, athletes, and everyday models, and how his style moved from expressive early pieces to refined, clear forms.

Changing Exhibitions and Programs

Alongside the permanent collection, the museum hosts temporary exhibitions that place Kolbe’s legacy in conversation with contemporary art and design. Talks, tours, and publications open up topics such as modernism, body culture, and the role of sculpture in public space. The museum also maintains Kolbe’s archive, which includes letters, photographs, and studio documents.

Studio Atmosphere and Materials

Walking through the studio spaces reveals the tools and materials of sculpture—casts, armatures, and fragments that show how a figure takes shape. The surfaces of bronze and plaster catch sunlight differently, revealing detail in muscles, drapery, and gesture. The setting encourages slow looking, emphasizing form, texture, and the dialogue between artwork and environment.