The Leopold Museum is synonymous with the name of Egon Schiele, but recently morphed into a more general art and design museum.
- Permanent exhibition on the period around 1900 (Vienna Modernism)
- Numerous works by Schiele, Klimt, Kokoschka, and similar
- What special exhibitions are on?
- Book tickets online* for the Leopold Museum
- See also:
- Selected past exhibitions
- Other art exhibitions in Vienna
- Klimt and Schiele locations
Rediscovering Schiele (& more)
(Leopold Museum with the MQ Libelle on its roof; © Leopold Museum, Vienna; Photo: Ouriel Morgensztern)
The story of the Leopold Museum begins over 100 years ago.
In 1918, Spanish flu robbed the world of artist Egon Schiele just as he was on the cusp of widespread acclaim.
Unfortunately, the distraction of rebuilding a continent (and destroying it again a few years later) meant people paid little attention to the works of this remarkable Austrian painter in the decades that followed.
Yet Schiele’s works can now fetch eight figure sums at auction.
Schiele’s (re)emergence and growing eminence owes much to the efforts of Rudolf and Elisabeth Leopold. They spent half a century putting together a huge collection of art, but also establishing Schiele as one of the world’s greats.
This collection forms the basis of the Leopold Museum, located inside the central MuseumsQuartier (MQ) complex.
Schiele has pride of place in the museum archives, but he’s just one of many great artists featured within.
Inside the Leopold Museum
(View of the “Vienna 1900” exhibition © Leopold Museum, Wien; Photo: Lisa Rastl)
The Vienna 1900 permanent exhibition forms the centrepiece of the museum and occupies three of its floors.
This presents the birth, peak and afterlife of the Vienna modernist movement, beginning with its origins and the likes of Hans Makart and ending with post-WWI developments.
Works by such names as Klimt, Kokoschka, Gerstl, Wagner, Hoffmann, Loos, Moser, Schoenberg, and others (and, of course, Schiele) occupy the bulk of the exhibition.
The remaining floors host regular special exhibitions (see below).
Tickets, exhibitions & tips
The museum sits in the southern half of the MQ, to the left as you come through the main entrance to the complex.
(Booking service provided by Tiqets.com*, who I am an affiliate of)
Special exhibitions
The current schedule at the time of writing:
- Rudolf Wacker (until February 16th, 2025): the New Objectivity focus continues with a solo exhibition for one of its major Austrian proponents
- Poetry of the Ornament (until March 9th, 2025): a dip into the archives of the Joh. Backhausen & Söhne company. This upmarket manufacturer of decorative fabrics and upholstery was known particularly for its collaborations during the Wiener Moderne with renowned artists and the Wiener Werkstätte
Shop and Café Leopold
The museum store carries the kind of items you’d expect: calendars, postcards, prints, and other typical mementos and designer goods.
Klimt dominates the themed products: I’m guessing The Kiss makes a more acceptable napkin than one of Schiele’s naked self-portraits (depends on the meal and company, though).
The Café Leopold is a mix of traditional coffee house, modern bar, and Asian restaurant. You can drop in without going into the museum, and they have a lovely outdoor section in the main MQ courtyard for part of the year, too.
Of course, the wider MuseumsQuartier is full of cafés and similar should you wish more choice.
Some further tips:
- The museum galleries are large, bright, and airy, with the works of art quite spread out. So it all feels very open and you’re not overwhelmed (which is helpful if you’re uncomfortable with darker themes and nudity: both of which can feature heavily with the likes of Schiele)
- All information displays in the Leopold Museum are bilingual (English and German)
- Go up to the seasonal rooftop MQ Libelle viewing platform using the lift on the outside of the building for views across the Museumsquartier and the old city as well as a small café
- A Vienna Pass (read an in-depth review) gets you in once for free
- If you enjoy the displays at the Leopold Museum, chances are you’ll like the MAK contemporary art and design museum, which also has a dedicated section covering turn-of-the-century Vienna
How to get to the Leopold Museum
Subway: The closest subway station is Museumsquartier (on the U2 line). You can also wander through the MQ complex from the northern end if you get off at the Volkstheater station (on the U2 and U3 lines).
Tram/bus: The 49 tram and 48A bus also go to Volkstheater. The Leopold Museum is not far from the ring tram lines, either. Take the 1, 2, D or 71 to Burgring and it’s a short walk away.
Address: Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Vienna | Website