Welcome to the exhibition “Kosmos Klee. The Collection”!

Immerse yourself in the cosmos of Paul Klee! Some 80 works from the collection provide an overview of the life and work of one of the most important and versatile artists of the modern era. In the exhibition, Klee’s pictures are complemented by photographs and other treasures from the archive.

Paul Klee, born in 1879, sought new forms of expression in response to the social and cultural upheavals of his time. He questioned everything that was taught in Europe. He drew inspiration from children’s drawings and non-European cultures, as well as from the structures and processes of nature. But he also engaged with artistic movements such as Expressionism, Cubism, Dadaism, Surrealism and Constructivism – without aligning himself with any of these groups. In numerous works, Klee commented on political events and human existence in general – with ironic distance and a satirical eye.

Klee grew up in Bern and spent the last years of his life in this city. This is why Bern is home to the world’s largest and most important collection of Klee’s work. It comprises some 4000 works of art: paintings, watercolours and drawings. In addition to his photo albums, letters, teaching notes and books, the Zentrum Paul Klee archives also contain his paintbrushes, shells and herbarium.

His oeuvre is experimental not only in terms of content and form, but also technically. The particular fragility of the works makes it necessary to replace them at regular intervals. These ‘periods of rest’ are essential to ensure that the works of art remain undamaged and can be experienced in their original beauty for a long time to come.

In our new FOKUS room you can discover selected aspects of Paul Klee’s work, as well as creative artists from around the world who have an affinity to Klee.

With a carefully curated selection of works and archival material from our collection, we now invite you to immerse yourself in the cosmos of Paul Klee.

We hope you enjoy the tour!