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mumok - Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien
September 21, 1962—Vienna's modern art revolution begins inside Austria's recycled Brussels Expo pavilion. Today at Museumsquartier, this striking black basalt cube arrived in 2001, designed by architects Ortner and Ortner. Inside: ten thousand artworks across seven levels, including treasures from the legendary Ludwig collection. Vienna's most radical artists didn't just paint—they shocked audiences using their own bodies as artwork. That's Viennese Actionism, Austria's wildest gift to world art.
Did You Know?
- : The mumok's collection was profoundly shaped by the Austrian Ludwig Foundation, established in 1981 through the efforts of art collectors Peter and Irene Ludwig and then-minister Herta Firnberg. This foundation secured hundreds of major works of Pop Art, Nouveau Réalisme, and Fluxus for long-term display, making mumok one of Europe’s most important centers for postwar avant-garde art.
- The museum’s striking black basalt building in Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier, designed by Ortner & Ortner and opened in 2001, is nicknamed the 'black box' for its cubic, monolithic appearance. Its unique architecture provides 4,800 square meters of exhibition space, allowing for large-scale installations and immersive experiences that are rare in traditional museum settings.
- mumok houses one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of Viennese Actionism, a radical art movement from the 1960s known for its provocative performances and experimental works. The museum regularly features interactive and family-friendly exhibitions, including workshops where children can explore performance art and create their own avant-garde pieces inspired by the museum’s legendary collection.