When does the exhibition run?

The exhibition runs from May 23, 2026, to October 4, 2026.

What is the entry fee?

The regular museum entry fee is 6 Euros. Admission is free on Wednesdays.

Where does the exhibition take place?

At the Edwin Scharff Museum / Art Museum at Petrusplatz 4 in 89231 Neu-Ulm.

Is the museum accessible?

Yes, the museum is accessible through the main entrance. All floors can be reached by elevator.

Are there guided tours or accompanying programs?

Yes, there are guided tours and an accompanying program for the exhibition. Registration is required for some dates.

Can I take photos in the exhibition?

There are no reliable details available regarding this in the researched information. It is best to inquire locally at the ticket office.

Ernst Barlach shows love as the great art of human closeness

Name: Ernst Barlach. Facets of Love
Start: 2026-05-23T02:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-05T01:59:59+02:00
Location: Edwin Scharff Museum / Kunstmuseum

Ernst Barlach at the Edwin Scharff Museum: Love as a Theme of Humanity in a New Light

The Edwin Scharff Museum in Neu-Ulm is dedicating an exhibition to Ernst Barlach, focusing on one of the most significant German sculptors, draftsmen, and authors of the 20th century. Under the title Facets of Love, an artistic experience unfolds that perceives love not as a cliché, but as an existential force: as longing, maternal love, altruism, temptation, loss, and deep connection.

Barlach between Sculpture, Drawing, and Language

Ernst Barlach (1870–1938) shaped modern art with a distinctive visual language. His works combine expressionistic intensity with great human empathy. In his three-dimensional and graphic works, it is evident how much the relationship between body, posture, and emotional tension concerned him. The museum presents him as a sensitive observer of human feelings.

Poetic Exhibits, Strong Motives, Clear Form

The exhibition showcases selected works, including lithographs and three-dimensional pieces, thus opening an intense access to Barlach's thematic world. The presented themes include the loving couple, unconditional altruism, the alluring seduction of sirens, mourning a loved one, and the tension between closeness and distance. Accompanying poetic texts deepen the contemplation of the works and impart a quiet, concentrated depth to the exhibition atmosphere.

Dialogue with Edwin Scharff

Particularly appealing are the juxtapositions with works by Edwin Scharff. They make visible how differently two contemporary sculptors viewed humanity and how closely their art historical references are intertwined. This creates an aesthetic experience that not only explains Classical Modernism but makes it immediately palpable.

Place of Cultural Education and Intense Encounter

The Edwin Scharff Museum is known as a house for art lovers and families, connecting an art museum with a children's museum. The exhibition fits into this museum education approach: it invites deeper contemplation, creates space for reflection, and also opens up access for younger visitors to fundamental human questions that resonate in Barlach's work to this day.

Conclusion

Ernst Barlach. Facets of Love promises an expressive exhibition about one of the oldest and yet most current themes in art. Anyone interested in expressionistic sculpture, graphic art, and the emotional foundations of human existence should experience this show live. A visit to Neu-Ulm is worthwhile for all those who want to not only see art but experience it in its depth.