The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum presents “Collection in Focus: Modern European Currents,” an intimate exploration of early twentieth-century avant-garde movements through nearly twenty paintings and watercolors from the museum’s holdings. The exhibition is on view through March 8, 2026, on Tower Level 2 at the Guggenheim’s iconic Fifth Avenue location.
This latest installment of the museum’s Collection in Focus series brings together works by influential artists from the Austro-Hungarian, German, and Russian Empires, including Natalia Goncharova, Vasily Kandinsky, Franz Marc, Liubov Popova, and Egon Schiele. The exhibition highlights how artists of the early twentieth century challenged tradition, broke boundaries, and embraced experimentation during a period of cultural and political transformation across Europe.
At the heart of the presentation is Franz Marc’s celebrated masterpiece “Yellow Cow” (1911), a vibrant and playful painting that captures Marc’s fascination with symbolism and spirituality in nature. Alongside such iconic works, the exhibition reveals lesser-known treasures, including Heinrich Campendonk’s “Farmer with Horse and Wagon” (1918), which has not been displayed since joining the Guggenheim’s collection in 1948.
“Modern European Currents” examines a pivotal moment when artists worked beyond national and cultural boundaries, engaging in a transnational exchange of ideas that shaped the course of modern art. By juxtaposing bold experiments in form, color, and abstraction, the exhibition invites visitors to consider the innovative ways these creators redefined visual representation and sought new artistic identities amid the shifting social and political landscapes of the early 1900s.
Part of the museum’s ongoing Collection in Focus initiative, the presentation underscores the Guggenheim’s commitment to reintroducing landmark works while spotlighting hidden gems from its archives. Through thoughtful curation, the exhibition provides a deeper understanding of how modernism evolved across Europe — a period marked by collaboration, tension, and radical reinvention.
Exhibition Details:
- Title: Collection in Focus: Modern European Currents
- Venue: Guggenheim New York, 1071 Fifth Avenue, New York
- Location: Tower Level 2
- Dates: Through March 8, 2026