Public Collection

Similar to the Skulptur Projekte Archives the public collection also reflects the history and continuity of Skulptur Projekte in Münster. Starting with Skulptur Ausstellung in Münster 1977 [Sculpture Exhibition in Münster 1977], the public collection has progressively grown with each new edition of Skulptur Projekte and now already encompasses over forty works in public space. It comprises all those contributions previously made to Skulptur Projekte that, subsequent to each respective exhibition, were permanently retained in Münster either through purchases or long-term loans. As a result it is possible to explore and study in situ the historical traces of the exhibition that has shaped the image of the city.

Owners of these works are the City of Münster, the University of Münster, the LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur and the non-profit association Dein Brunnen für Münster e.V, each of which are responsible for the care and maintenance of the works, depending on their respective ownership. While the large majority of works in the public collection are still on view within the city’s public space there are a few exceptions which for conservational or work-specific reasons cannot be kept outdoors. Several works will from now on be exhibited in an altered form in the museum. This is the case, for instance, with the works by John Knight, Michael Smith, Koki Tanaka and Hervé Youmbi purchased after Skulptur Projekte 2017 by the LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur.