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Leopold Museum

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Leopold Museum Vienna, Egon Schiele, Self-Portrait
The entrance to the Leopold Museum in Vienna located in the MuseumsQuartier

Leopold Museum in Vienna

Map} 120 mins

The Leopold Museum, which opened in 2001 in Vienna, is renowned for its extraordinary collections of Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt artworks. The museum’s holdings were amassed by art collectors Rudolf Leopold and his wife Elisabeth Leopold and have been owned by the Leopold Museum-Privatstiftung since 1994. This museum is a key destination for experiencing modern Austrian art. It offers insights into the intense expressions and intimate emotions that define Austrian modernism.

Opening Hours +43 1 525701522 Website Wheelchair Access
Address:
Museumsplatz 1
1070 Wien

Muvamo Opinion

The Leopold Museum takes you into the heart of Austria’s art, with the Egon Schiele collection as its highlight. His intense self-portraits and bright colors feel alive and powerful. Seeing his work, created during difficult times in history, is truly moving. One unforgettable piece is “Death and the Maiden,” which shows Schiele’s emotional struggles and complicated relationships.

Gustav Klimt is also featured, offering a glimpse into his lesser-known yet equally mesmerizing works. His landscapes reveal a softer, more introspective side. Beyond these celebrated artists, the museum offers a thorough exploration of Austrian modernism, featuring works by Oskar Kokoschka and Richard Gerstl, along with fascinating exhibits on Viennese culture during the late 19th century.

The museum’s minimalist white cube design beautifully contrasts with the colorful artworks, enhanced by natural light. On the top floor, a terrace offers a stunning view of the MuseumsQuartier courtyard and Vienna’s skyline, perfect for reflection. Photography enthusiasts will appreciate the museum’s photogenic architecture.

The Leopold Museum is a cultural treasure that invites visitors to explore Austria’s rich artistic legacy.

Helpful Hints

  • Buy a combined MuseumsQuartier ticket if you plan to visit other spots like the Mumok or Kunsthalle Wien.

Gastronomic Discoveries

  • Grab a coffee or light snack at the Leopold Museum Café—their terrace seating offers lovely views.

Hidden Gems

  • The Vienna 1900 exhibit, which explores the culture and design revolution of fin-de-siècle Vienna, is a must-see.
  • Keep an eye out for temporary exhibitions, which often highlight lesser-known modernist artists.

Our Little Extras

  • The museum shop has an incredible collection of art books, prints, and Schiele-inspired souvenirs—perfect for gifts or a personal keepsake.

The Leopold Museum owes its existence to the passion of Dr. Rudolf Leopold and his wife Elisabeth. Rudolf Leopold was a doctor by profession but an art collector by passion. Beginning in the 1950s, he devoted his life to collecting works by Austrian artists who were underappreciated at the time. This included Egon Schiele, who was virtually unknown outside of Austria, and Gustav Klimt, whose work was just starting to gain international recognition.

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In 1994, the Leopolds’ collection—one of the largest private art collections in Austria—was purchased by the Austrian government and became the foundation for the Leopold Museum Private Foundation. This marked the start of the Leopold Museum as we know it today.

Designed by architects Laurids and Manfred Ortner, the museum building is a modernist masterpiece in its own right. Its white limestone façade and clean lines contrast sharply with the baroque and classical architecture surrounding it, symbolizing the boldness of the modernist movement.

Inside, the museum features over 5,000 works of art, with a strong focus on the fin-de-siècle period, Wiener Werkstätte design, and the early 20th century. The Schiele collection is a particular highlight, containing more than 200 of his works, including paintings, drawings, and watercolors. These pieces give visitors a comprehensive look at the life and mind of one of Austria’s most influential artists.

In addition to Schiele and Klimt, the museum also celebrates other key figures in Austrian modernism, such as Oskar Kokoschka, Koloman Moser, and Alfred Kubin. Temporary exhibitions further enrich the experience, often exploring broader themes in European modernism and contemporary art.