| Friedensreich Hundertwasser was one of Austria’s most prominent artists of the Post-War era. He was a painter and sculpture, as well as an architectural designer. His works and buildings, which can be found sprinkled throughout Austria in museums, city squares, and even at highway rest stops, have unmistakable character. In 1989, construction began on the Kunsthaus Wien in the Third District of Vienna, with the aim to establish a place for a permanent Hundertwasser exhibit. The building was designed by the artist himself, and on approaching, one immediately recognizes his signature whirls and colors. The museum was finally opened in 1991, with about 4,000 square meters of exhibition space. Hundertwasser’s works—paintings, graphics, tapestries and architectural models—are displayed on the second and third floors of the building, while the top two floors are reserved for international contemporary art exhibits. In the past, exhibitions of works by Picasso, David LaChappelle, Niki de Saint Phalle, Pierre et Gilles, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, amongst others, have been shown. The gift shop, on the ground floor of the Kunsthaus, features items and art objects that were crafted under the personal supervision of Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
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