Collection
Classics of Pop Art, Gerhard Richter and Georg Baselitz, graffiti painting and the Leipzig School: throughout their lives, Peter and Irene Ludwig have amassed an incomparable collection of outstanding works since the early 1960s. Donations and permanent loans from their collection are now housed in more than 20 museums worldwide. The home of this unique collection, however, is the Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst in Aachen, where the industrialist couple lived and from where they directed one of the largest chocolate and confectionery production operations in the former Federal Republic. The Ludwig Forum Aachen houses some 3,000 works from the collection.
The Ludwigs were among the first collectors of Pop Art. As early as 1968, they showed the new Americans in Aachen. Among them was Andy Warhol, whose unprecedented career is closely linked to the couple. In 1970, Peter Ludwig traveled to Duane Hanson in New York and acquired important groups of figures by the artist, including the Supermarket Lady. The early, scandalous presentations made Aachen a highly relevant exhibition venue for contemporary art-even before the photographic and hyperrealism of documenta 5 in 1972 began its conquest of Europe. Later, purchases by Jeff Koons, Jonathan Borofsky, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and others continued the American line.
Beginning in the early 1970s, the Ludwigs expanded their collecting activities into the GDR and Eastern Europe. Works from the “Eastern Bloc” could often only be acquired in groups, and the state sometimes had a say in the selection of works. Thus, historically relevant paintings are lined up with works by Ilya Kabakov and Erik Bulatov. Purchases in the USSR have been followed since 1983 by Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary. Early works by Nedko Solakov and Dan Perjovschi thus entered the collection. Later, China and Cuba attracted the attention of collectors. Chinese and Cuban art in particular are focal points at the Ludwig Forum in Aachen.
In addition to the works from the Ludwig Collection, the museum’s holdings include a number of works from municipal collections. These include, for example, around 300 top-class video works by Bruce Nauman, Richard Serra, Laurie Anderson, Joan Jonas and Nam June Paik.
The following works from the collections at the Ludwig Forum are currently on display
Ground Floor:
Entrance
Julia Scher, Security by Julia (Dispenser), 2020
Hall
Jo Baer, Vertical Flanking Diptych (Large, Orange), 1966/67
Nairy Baghramian, Side Saddle Damenrad, 2009
Matti Braun, Eight Grey Sofas, 2010
Peter Brüning, Straßenwand, 1968
Nancy Graves, Mongolian Bactrian, 1969
Nancy Graves, Kenya Dromedary, 1969
Jenny Holzer, Ohne Titel, 1991
Jörg Immendorff, Naht (Brandenburger Tor – Weltfrage), 1982/83
Magdalena Jetelová, Der Setzung andere Seite, 1987
Jasper Johns, Scent, 1974
Konrad Klapheck, Heldenlied, 1975
Konrad Klapheck, Athletisches Selbstbildnis, 1958;
Gabriel Kuri, Items in Care of Items, 2008
Lee Lozano, Switch, 1964/65
Attila Mata, Paszport, 1986
Gerhard Richter, Permutationen 1 – 1024, 1973/74
Karla Sachse, Stabile Entwicklung, 1991
George Segal, Man on a Ladder, 1970
Wolf Vostell, Peter Fechter, 1965
Peter Young, Painting No. 2, 1966
“Klimaflügel”
Jean-Michel Alberola, Avigado I (Cara a Cara), 1984
Jean-Michel Alberola, Ohne Titel (Nr.1), aus der Serie „La Pluralité des Mondes“, 1988
Jean-Michel Alberola, Ohne Titel (Nr.5), aus der Serie „La Pluralité des Mondes“, 1988
Jean-Michel Alberola, Ohne Titel (Nr.7), aus der Serie „La Pluralité des Mondes“, 1988
Jean-Michel Alberola, Ohne Titel (Nr.12), aus der Serie „La Pluralité des Mondes“, 1988
Jean-Michel Alberola, Ohne Titel (Nr.15), aus der Serie „La Pluralité des Mondes“, 1988
Paweł Althamer, Ohne Titel (Rutsche), 2010
Belkis Ayón, La Sentencia, 1993
Belkis Ayón, La Sentencia, 1994
Belkis Ayón, Nuestro Deber, 1993
Belkis Ayón, Siempre Vuelvo, 1993
Belkis Ayón, Sín tìtulo [Sikán con chivo], 1993
Belkis Ayón, Sín tìtulo [Sikán con puntas blancas], 1993
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Blue Gyp Stock, 1983
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Ishtar, 1983
Erik Bulatov, Восход или закат, 1989
María Magdalena Campos-Pons, Opciones para el mito: Leda piensa, 1989
Walter Dahn, Ohne Titel, 1987
Fischli/Weiss, Der Auftrag, aus der Serie „Fieber“, 1983
Wang Guangyi, 大批判 – Maxwell House Coffee, 1990
Richard Hamilton, My Marilyn, 1965
Duane Hanson, Supermarket Shopper, 1970
Joan Jonas, Vertical Roll, 1972
Robert Kushner, Girls, 1978
Robert Kushner, Layers, 1978
Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt, A Rite of Passage: The Leprechaun (a Mischievous Irish fairy) and the Puerto Rican Prince, 1974-1985
Thomas Lanigan-Schmidt, Iconostasis, 1977-78
Roy Lichtenstein, Hopeless, 1963
Roy Lichtenstein, Pow Wow, 1979
Roy Lichtenstein, Sweet Dreams, Baby!, 1965
Nadenka Creative Association, Кухонный текстиль, 2016
Bruce Nauman, Flesh to White to Black to Flesh (…), 1968
Hilka Nordhausen, Ohne Titel (Baby-Engel), 1980
Dan Perjovschi, Anthropotheque, 1992
Raymond Pettibon, $ 4,oo (I always peruse a Chaucher, a Cervantes or a Milton with delight, and ever sit down to my ledger with a sort of disgust), 1991
Raymond Pettibon, Martin Luther King, 1992
Lady Pink (Sandra Fabara), Viva el Pueblo, 1984
Robert Rauschenberg, Hazard, 1965
Robert Rauschenberg, Poster for CORE (Congress of Racial Equality), 1965
Rissa, Die Klammer, 1968
Rissa, Fettprobe, 1967
Ulrike Rosenbach, Glauben Sie nicht, daß ich eine Amazone bin, 1975
Ulrike Rosenbach, Reflexionen über die Geburt Venus, 1975-76
Ulrike Rosenbach, Sorry, Mister, 1975
Ulrike Rosenbach, Zehn Bilder zum Tarot, 1976
James Rosenquist, Untitled, 1965
Mikołaj Sobczak, The Vision, 2022
Telewissen, Trio Sonata in Video Deutschland, Deutschland 1. Satz: Freizeit, 1977
Telewissen, Trio Sonata in Video Deutschland, Deutschland 2. Satz: Ordnung, 1977
Telewissen, Trio Sonata in Video Deutschland, Deutschland 3. Satz: Arbeit, 1977
José Toirac, Eternity, 1996
José Toirac, Hasta la victoria siempre, 1995
Franz Erhard Walther, auf dem Vulkan, aus dem Zyklus „Wortbilder“, 1958
Franz Erhard Walther, ku klux klan, aus dem Zyklus „Wortbilder“, 1957
Andy Warhol, Barricades, 1980
Andy Warhol, Baseball Glove, 1976-1987
Andy Warhol, Campell’s Soup I, 1968
Andy Warhol, Jackie III, 1966
Andy Warhol, Nunsense Party, 1976-1987
Andy Warhol, Saturday’s Popeye, 1960
Andy Warhol, Table Setting, 1976-1987
Andy Warhol, The Kiss (Bela Lugosi), 1963
Andy Warhol, Window Display, Buckwheat, 1986
Annette Wehrmann, Blumensprengungen, 1992-1995
Ai Weiwei, Double Mao, 1985
Garry Winogrand, Demonstration outside Madison Square Garden, New York, aus der Serie „Public Relations“, 1968
Garry Winogrand, Frank Stella Exhibiton, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, aus der Serie „Public Relations“, 1970
Garry Winogrand, Gay Liberation Demonstration, Central Park, New York, aus der Serie „Public Relations“, 1971
Garry Winogrand, Hard-Hat Rally, New York, aus der Serie „Public Relations“, 1969
Garry Winogrand, Jesse Jackson Operation PUSH Dinner, aus der Serie „Public Relations“, 1972
Garry Winogrand, Mayor John Lindsay, Central Park, New York, aus der Serie „Public Relations“, 1969
Garry Winogrand, Opening, Frank Stella Exhibition, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, aus der Serie „Public Relations“, 1970
Garry Winogrand, Peace Demonstration, Central Park, New York, aus der Serie „Public Relations“, 1969
Garry Winogrand, Peace Rally, Central Park, New York, aus der Serie „Public Relations“, 1971
Garry Winogrand, Presidential Candidates‘ Rally, Statehouse, Providence, R.I., aus der Serie „Public Relations“, 1971
Garry Winogrand, State Dinner, Apollo 11 Astronauts, Los Angeles, aus der Serie „Public Relations“, 1969
Garry Winogrand, Women’s Liberation March, New York, 1971, aus der Serie „Public Relations“, 1971
Room 8
Laurie Anderson, China, in Downgrading of Mao, Attacks the Cultural Revolution, 1979
Fahr El-Nissa Zeid, Basel Carnival / Carnaval de Bâle, 1953
Nancy Graves, Aves: Magnificent Frigate Bird, Greater Flamingo, 1973
Nancy Graves, I Part of Sabine D Region, Southwest Mare Tranquilitatis, 1972
Nancy Graves, II Fra Mauro Region of the Moon, 1972
Nancy Graves, III Maestlin G Region of the Moon, 1972
Nancy Graves, IV Julius Caesar Quadrangle of the Moon, 1972
Nancy Graves, V Montes Appeninus Region of the Moon, 1972
Nancy Graves, VI Maskelyne DA Region of the Moon, 1972
Nancy Graves / Linda Leeds, Reflections on the Moon, 1974
Alex Hay, Steno Pad, 1966
Alfred Jensen, The Hekatompedon Pattern, 1966
Jasper Johns, Untitled (Ruler), 1968
Sol LeWitt, All Crossing Combinations of Arcs from Sides and Corners, Straight and Not-Straight Lines, 1973
Sol LeWitt, All Crossing Combinations of Arcs from Corners and Sides, Straight and Not-Straight and Broken Lines, 1973
Rune Mields, Nr. 26, 1969
Judy Pfaff, Ohne Titel, 1982
Miriam Schapiro, Geometry in Flowers, 1978
Room 9
Belkis Ayón, ¿Arrepentida? „Haz que el arrepentimiento sea sincero”, 1993
Belkis Ayón, Druckmatrize zu / Printing matrix of ¿Arrepentida?, 1993
Belkis Ayón, Pa‘ que me quieras por siempre, 1991
Belkis Ayón, Sin título (Hombre con Sikán en sus manos), 1993
Imi Knoebel, Projektion X, 1972
Christopher Knowles, The Red and Green Space Needle, 1977
Christopher Knowles, Map of the United States, 1979
Klaus Paier, Arschfick und Gaffer, 1978
Klaus Paier, Atomenergie bringt Tod, 1978
Klaus Paier, Der große Krieg, 1980
Klaus Paier, Es herrscht immer Krieg in den Fabriken, 1978
Klaus Paier, Und ein Mann und ein Junge, auf einem Fahrrad flogen sie davon um sich zu lieben, 1979
Robert Rauschenberg, Earth Day, 1970
Robert Rauschenberg & Susan Weil, Ohne Titel, 1949/50
Room 10
Carla Accardi, Ohne Titel, 1965
Lygia Clark, Arquitetura Fantástica (Bicho), 1963
Bertram Jesdinsky, Serie Baukasten! – „Blauer Widder“, „Gelber Vogel“ & „Schlauchtier“, 1989
Svetlana Kopystiansky, Landschaft, 1988
Svetlana Kopystiansky, Verpackte Geschichte, 1988
Svetlana Kopystiansky, Verpacktes Gemälde, 1988
Margit Palme, Auf dem Podest, 2017
Margit Palme, Aus meiner Sicht, 2006
Margit Palme, Bardame, 1972
Margit Palme, Der Blick, 2005
Margit Palme, Draperie, 1984
Margit Palme, Messerscharf, 2015
Margit Palme, Maskenfreiheit, 1984
Margit Palme, Kokon, 1994
Margit Palme, Quartett zu zweit, 1979
Margit Palme, Retusche, 2005
Margit Palme, Schlangenübung, 2015
Dorothea Rockburne, 3 Tears, 2 Folds, 1972
Dorothea Rockburne, Folded Paper with Lines, 1972
“Kapellenräume”
Jean-Michel Basquiat, Grazing – Soup to Nuts, MGM, 1930, 1938
Boyle Family, Cobbles Study with Drains, 1979/80
Rackstraw Downes, Dragon Cement Plant, Thomaston, 1985
Mónica Giron, Ajuar para un conquistator, 1993
Nancy Graves, Proposal to Control the Current Brush Invasion in the Western United States and Mexico or the Reintroduction of the Camel to Refill a Niche Left in the Pleistocene, 1968
Nancy Graves, 200 Stills at 60 Frames, 1970
Nancy Graves, Izy Boukir, 1970
Nancy Graves, Pleistocene Camelus, 1971
Michael Heizer, Art before Life (A Relationship on the Land), 1969
Irmel Kamp, Mit Zinkblech verkleidete Bauten in Ostbelgien, 1978-81
Barbara & Michael Leisgen, The Never Ending Water, 1974/75
Richard Long, A hundred mile walk along a line in County Mayo, Ireland, 1974
Richard Long, Oxshott near London, 1968
Algirdas Milleris, Transportband (Weitaufnahme), 1978-81
Algirdas Milleris, Abraumhalde, 1978-81
Algirdas Milleris, Transportband (Nahaufnahme), 1978-81
Wolfgang Nestler, Auffangbecken bei Titz, 1977
Jüri Okas, Saaremaa maastik, 1984
Jüri Okas, Põhjarannik, 1984
Ramón Pacheco Salazar, Ohne Titel [abgeholztes Areal], undatiert
Ramón Pacheco Salazar, Ohne Titel [abgeerntetes Zuckerfeld], undatiert
Second Floor:
Volodymyr Budnikov, Fußballspiel in Chiwa, 1981
Sergey Geta, Monolog (aus der Serie „Demokratie der Militärjunta“), 1981
Evgeni Gordiets, Am Morgen, 1981
Eduard Gorochovskij, Spiele, 1983
Ilya Kabakov, In einer Ecke, 1977-88
Andrij Kocka, Abend, 1979
Jurji Luckevič, Gurzuf, 1972
Petro Markovič, Galaxien (Kurzwarenladen), 1964
Petro Markovič, Kleinigkeiten, 1968
Petro Markovič, Weihnachten, 1969
Anatolij Mašarov, Die an der Wand Stehende, 1978
Daniel Mitljanskij, Der große Tyšler, 1982
Vera Morozova, Der Künstler und sein Modell, 1980
Vera Morozova, Die Künstlerin und ihr Modell, 1980
Halyna Neledva, Georgisches Brot, 1983
Arkadij Petrov, Familie, 1973
Arkadij Petrov, Familie im Doneckbecken, 1970
Arkadij Petrov, Geldwechsel, 1983
Larisa Rezun-Zvezdočetova, Die Rasenden, 1989
Larisa Rezun-Zvezdočetova, Natur und Phantasie, 1990
Viktor Ryžich, Lied über das Künstlerheim Guzuf, 1977
Oleksander Tyšler, Abstrakte Komposition, 1977
Oleksander Tyšler, Der hingerichtete Engel, 1964
Leonid Vojcechov, Angelsaison, 1989
Leonid Vojcechov, Ende der Vorstellung, 1987
Park
Courtyard and Loggia
Jonathan Borofsky, Ballerina Clown, 1990
Lars Breuer, Zero history, 2011
Wolfgang Nestler, Rastplatz für die Windstille, 1999
Claes Oldenburg, Colossal Ashtray, 1975
Park
Horst Antes, Lustgarten mit 7 Monumenten der Lüste oder Garten des Malers, 1967
Maija Baltiņa, Tantasdziesma [Volkslied], 1983
Gruppe Blaustich, GRUNDSTEIN mit BLAUSTICH, ca. 1976-2005
Thomas Virnich, Ludwigs Gartenhaus, 1991-93
Thomas Virnich, Rosentor, 1991
Artur Żmijewski, Bild der Lebenszeiten, Kunst der Roboter, lange Arbeit, Kunst der Lebensfreude, Gold, lebendige Gesichter, 2013
