Constantin Brancusi

Exhibition at the Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin, 20 March – 9 August 2026

Constantin Brancusi (1876–1957) ranks among the most eminent modernist sculptors and has exerted a decisive influence on generations of contemporary artists. After completing his academic training in Romania, he set off at the age of twenty-eight on a journey across Europe before settling in Paris. Organic and reduced to the essentials, his works make him a pioneer of early 20th-century sculptural abstraction. Brancusi’s ceaseless quest for a creative ideal is evident in the formal variations of a few motifs and in his playful exploration of diverse materials and surfaces. He skilfully employed specific plinths, lighting and movement, as well as photography and film, to showcase his sculptures.

This exhibition catalogue highlights the many facets of Brancusi’s work: it presents major works from international collections as well as views of his studio. Photographs of the artist from his personal collection complement the extensive section of illustrations. Essays are devoted to his own staging of his works and to the reception of his art in Europe.