Groninger Museum Embraces Radical Roots With Four New Exhibitions

(MENAFN- USA Art News) The Groninger Museum in the northern Netherlands is embarking on a new artistic chapter, led by its new artistic director, Roos Gortzak. Four new exhibitions are set to open on Saturday, September 19, 2026, signaling a return to the institution's radical, experimental ethos that defined its postmodern building when it opened in 1994.

These complementary exhibitions will use the archetypal figures of the architect and the housewife as conceptual starting points. This approach aims to explore societal questions about who shapes the future and who is responsible for its maintenance. Gortzak's vision moves the museum away from blockbuster shows, instead focusing on a more cohesive and sustainable artistic program that draws on the museum's diverse, five-millennia-spanning collection and its history of collaborative, multidisciplinary projects.

Gortzak emphasized that contemporary art will serve as the core lens for all museum activities, including exhibitions, performances, events, and research. She explained that this approach allows the museum to“reconnect with the radical, experimental spirit that made the museum's iconic postmodern building possible in 1994.”

The current program will revolve around the“field of tension” between the architect and the housewife. This theme will explore power dynamics, asking“who is encouraged to think big” and“who gets to design the house, and who takes care of it?” Gortzak's curatorial philosophy prioritizes what contemporary artists are creating and the questions their works pose. She stated,“I don't want to impose rigid ideas or concepts on exhibitions or institutions.”

An exploration of the museum's history revealed that only 2 percent of its collection was created by women, and the collective of architects who designed the experimental building in 1994 were all men. This finding influenced the decision to use Frances Stark's 1999 publication, The Architect & the Housewife, as inspiration. The opening exhibitions, all interconnected, include:“The Architect & the Housewife,”“Playing House,”“New light 1: Ani Schulze-The Convent of Pleasure,” and“Keramikos Carrier Bag.”

Gortzak acknowledged a deliberate risk in moving away from the blockbuster model, stating that the museum seeks to be a place for reflection, curiosity, and critical thinking. She believes that“not understanding something right away isn't a bad thing.” The museum also aims to deepen its connection with the local community in Groningen, becoming a space for students from Rijksuniversiteit Groningen and Academie Minerva to find inspiration.

The museum's iconic postmodern building, designed collaboratively by four international voices, including Alessandro Mendini, serves as a primary source of inspiration for Gortzak's vision. She noted that the founding values of the building's creation,“collectivity, interdisciplinarity, and experimentation,” will guide the museum's new direction.

Source: Artnet News

MENAFN11092026005694012507ID1111654068