340,000 Visitors for Kiefer in Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum

The exhibition was a unique collaborative effort between the two museums, and attracted almost 340,000 visitors. The presentation at the Van Gogh Museum explored the connection between Kiefer and Van Gogh for the first time, while the Stedelijk staged the first-ever presentation of all of Kiefer’s works in its collection, and focused on his long connection with Dutch collectors and museums. The artist showed new work in both museums, including two new large-scale installations at the Stedelijk, one of which lent the exhibition its title.

Emilie Gordenker, Director, Van Gogh Museum: “We thought the exhibition would be a success, but it overtook our expectations. It is significant that the Van Gogh Museum attracted a record number of visitors from the Netherlands (over 95,000), the highest number in a decade, as the museum has consciously made a pivot towards local audiences. I would like to thank everyone who came to see the show as well as my colleagues in both museums for the fabulous collaboration. We couldn’t have achieved this huge success without the Stedelijk.”

Rein Wolfs, Director, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam: “This exhibition has reached a very wide audience and we are pleased that it has been so well received by our visitors. It is wonderful to see how Anselm Kiefer’s art continues to engage and resonate. We are seeing his work achieve a new dynamic and relevance in today’s world. On behalf of both museums, we express our sincere gratitude to the numerous funds and patrons whose generous support made this exhibition possible.”

Main Image: Anselm Kiefer, The Starry Night, 2019, emulsion, oil, acrylic, shellac, straw, gold leaf, wood, wire, sediment of an electrolysis on canvas, 470 x 840 cm © Anselm Kiefer. Photo: Georges Poncet [Collection of the artist, courtesy White Cube]