Karl Schmidt-Rottluff Haus

In February 2023, after years of initiatives and preliminary planning, the city of Chemnitz decided to renovate the former parental house of Karl Schmidt-Rottluff with a focus on historical preservation. The house was set up by the Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz and opened in April 2025 as their sixth venue. Along with the adjacent residential mill, where Karl Schmidt-Rottluff spent his childhood, the ensemble is considered another hotspot of Expressionism in Chemnitz. Both buildings are located at Limbacher Straße 380/382 in Rottluff (Chemnitz). As a "place of emergence," the Karl Schmidt-Rottluff House is one of the intervention areas of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025. The new Karl Schmidt-Rottluff House operates under museum standards and emphasizes original artworks, handicrafts, documents, and Chemnitz-related biographical highlights in its first presentation. Noteworthy is the collection of Dr. Victor and Hedda Peters—a permanent loan from the Ostdeutsche Sparkassenstiftung together with the Sparkasse Chemnitz. Three major thematic blocks frame the presentation: the work and biography of the artist, the history of Expressionism in Chemnitz, and the history of the place during the artist´s lifetime. The rooms are dedicated to various sub-themes, including life in Rottluff, school days and artistic beginnings, the Brücke period, presentations of wood and jewelry objects, life in Chemnitz during wartime. Many objects, drawings, and documents are being exhibited for the first time; some have never been published. The house additionally sets individual accents with its colorful design of the hallway, old stairs, reconstructed doors and floors, historic windows, and many details on the exterior. The renovation was comprehensive: the exterior space is carefully and barrier-free designed. The garden connects both buildings of the ensemble and invites visitors to linger and host small events, especially in warm weather. The former rural house of the artist’s parents is an example of the reform or Heimat style. At the beginning of the 20th century, Rottluff was a rural area and not yet a district of Chemnitz, even though intense industrialization increasingly crept into the landscape profiles. Nearby are other significant excursion destinations, including Rabenstein Castle (Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz), the Felsendome, the zoo, and the reservoir. The ensemble aims to become a lively meeting point for art enthusiasts and residents. The mill is operated by the Förderverein Karl Schmidt-Rottluff Chemnitz e. V.

Adolescents, pupils

Unser aktuelles museumspädagogisches Angebot erfragen Sie bitte über info-kunstsammlungen@stadt-chemnitz.de.

Connection public transport

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Notes on using your smartphone or cameras

Das Fotografieren und Filmen – ausschließlich für private, nicht kommerzielle Zwecke – ist ohne Blitz, Stativ oder Selfiestab in den Ausstellungen der Museen der Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz gestattet.

Guided tours and group offers

Öffentliche Führungen finden immer sonntags von 14:00-14:30, 14:45-15:15 und 15:30-16:00 statt. Die Teilnahme an öffentlichen Führungen ist im Museumseintrittenthalten; um Anmeldung wird gebeten: info-kunstsammlungen@stadt-chemnitz.de. Sonderführungen für Gruppen (bis max. 24 Personen) können unter +49 (0)371 488 4424 oder info.kunstsammlungen@stadt-chemnitz.de gebucht werden.