Gabriele Münter was a key figure in the development of modern art in Europe during the early twentieth century. At the time, Germany’s public art schools excluded women, so she forged her own path. She became a leading figure in the avant-garde art scene in Munich and nearby Murnau, notably contributing to the formation of The Blue Rider (Der Blaue Reiter). This loose and transnational affiliation of visionary artists, writers, and musicians explored how color and form could express deep emotions and spiritual ideas. During World War I, Münter spent time in Scandinavia, prompting a rich exchange with Nordic modernisms and shifts in her artistic style.

With her bold planes of vibrant colors, Münter reimagined the traditional genres of still life, landscape, and portraiture. Her disruptive practice offered an alternative to the emerging innovations in abstract art that de-emphasized recognizable forms. This landmark exhibition focuses on the years 1908 to 1920, while also underscoring through later works the artist’s sustained drive to experiment and adapt. It will feature sixty paintings and eighteen photographs across three Tower galleries, illuminating Münter’s groundbreaking and overlooked contributions to modern art.